The Right Foundation for a Relationship

September Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas and greetings in Jesus’ precious name! Christ came into this world “in the fullness of time” to redeem mankind from sin and to reconcile us to the Heavenly Father (Galatians 4:4,5). And what a great salvation it was and is that God wrought for us in Christ (see Hebrews 2:3-18)! Denise and I and our family wish you a warm and wonderful Christmas season and the best new year of your life in 2022.

Today I want to talk to you about opportunities and adversaries, but first I want to say thank you for being such a faithful partner with our ministry. As I told you in my letter last month, our ministry is bursting at the seams, and I am so humbled that God would use Denise and me, our family, and our team to minister to the many people who are reaching out to us every day.

Every soul is precious, and it is our heartfelt desire to convey that truth to every person God brings to us — that they are precious to Him and to us. And your gifts are so vital to our ability to touch every one of these treasured souls! So today I want to say a special thank you for all you do with us to take the trusted teaching of the Word of God to people in Russia and all over the world. From the depths of our hearts, Denise and I THANK YOU!

This month is the last month of the year — and I know you are probably preparing for Christmas and many different kinds of gatherings. But in addition to Christmas, it’s also almost 2022. As we come to the end of this year and to the beginning of a brand-new year, the Holy Spirit keeps telling me to “stay on track” with the assignments He has given us. I hear Him saying that even if we hit bumps along the way, everything will be all right if we’ll just stay on track and maintain our God-assigned territory — the many opportunities and assignments He has given us to inspire, strengthen, and equip believers with the sound teaching of the Bible.

But I’ve learned over the years that opportunities and adversaries usually go together — and today I want to encourage you to undergird yourself so that you can stay on track with what God has asked you to do this month and in the coming year.

Over the course of our ministry, we’ve had many great, effectual doors open to us to do the work of the Gospel. I’ll never forget when I received an opportunity to minister on television in the former Soviet Union. It was as if a great door had suddenly swung open to an entire vast territory — a door that had never before been opened for anyone else — and I knew I was experiencing something miraculous. By faith, Denise and I stepped through that door and began to preach the Word of God on television in this spiritually starved corner of the world.

Given the former socialist-communist campaigns against the Gospel in this particular region, this opportunity was as miraculous as the Jordan River dividing for Joshua and the children of Israel. But with this great open door also came a slew of adversaries, specifically dispatched by Satan to instill fear and doubt into my heart. The devil desperately wanted to prevent me from touching the lives of spiritually oppressed people, so he positioned evil people with insidious plans to try to block my view of what God had in store for our ministry.

I’m telling you that it was like the children of Israel looking at the Promised Land from the far side of the Jordan River. From that perspective, they saw only the fruitful land of blessing that lay before them. But once they entered the Promised Land, they had to fight giants of every kind before they could possess that land and enjoy the blessing. In much the same way, if Denise and I had taken our eyes off the Lord during that tumultuous period — or if we had focused only on the problems and forgotten about the fruit we were pursuing for God’s Kingdom — I’m sure we would have backpedaled to get out of the situation!

But we knew this was a God-given opportunity and worth the fight, so we fixed our gaze squarely on the Lord. Girded with the armor of God and the power of the Spirit, we pushed through every obstacle and possessed the ground that God called us to take. As a result, millions of souls began to hear the Gospel for the first time. We knew that only God could have opened this door!

In First Corinthians 16:9, the apostle Paul wrote about the strategic doors of opportunity that open for the Gospel and the adversaries that usually accompany them. He said, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” Notice that Paul used the words “great,” “door,” “effectual,” and “is opened” to describe the opportunity that had been set before him.

The word “great” in this verse is translated from the Greek word megale, which means gigantic. The word “door” is the Greek word thura, which typically refers to a door, but in this context, denotes a rare opportunity. The word “effectual” is the Greek word energes, and it depicts something that is powerful and ready to be set into motion. Finally, the phrase “is opened” is the Greek word anoigo, which describes something standing wide open. In other words, the door in question couldn’t be any more open! Thus, an alternate translation of Paul’s words in First Corinthians 16:9 could be rendered, “A gigantic, powerful opportunity is already set in motion and standing wide open….”

Paul continued by saying, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me….” You see, Paul knew that the particular door he was referring to had never been opened to anyone else, and he stood in awe of the unprecedented opportunity. Walking through these kinds of doors is impossible without divine assistance, and Paul was fully aware of God’s role in the matter. That is why he specified that this door had been opened “unto me.”

Paul’s prayer request in First Corinthians 16:9 was not for a door to open because it had already opened. His prayer request was to receive God’s wisdom to deal with the numerous adversaries who were trying to come against him. Paul used the Greek word antikeimenoi to describe the vast number of “adversaries” that were sent to attack him. This Greek word describes something that was piled high and lying all around him. In other words, he was dealing with more than a few minor opponents. On the contrary, it felt like opposition was stacked high on every side!

I’ve learned that the enemy will try his best to keep you from stepping through the gigantic doors of opportunity God desires to open for you. Satan is afraid of what will happen when “his” territory is invaded by someone fully equipped with a full arsenal of spiritual weapons. So know this: God will open doors for you — but He needs you to make a determined decision that you will walk through them, no matter the opposition, with the help of His Spirit.

By opening the door, God has already done His part, which would have been impossible without His assistance. Now He beckons you to come, dressed in the whole armor of God and in the power of His Word — and proceed through that effectual door into new territory. It may look like enemies are everywhere, but it is simply a fact that the devil and his forces flee and collapse when they are subjected to a show of strong faith!

As I mentioned earlier, many great and effectual doors have been opened to us over the years to do the work of the Gospel. In each case, we knew these doors were unique to us and had never before been opened for anyone else. And just as Paul experienced opposition, there were plenty of enemies that came against us with each opportunity. But because we obeyed God, the devil was forced to move out of the way, and we walked right into the virgin territory that God had opened for our ministry.

Even if you think your situation looks threatening right now, I want to tell you that God is with you. He wants to supernaturally open new doors for you — doors that have never before been opened for you. He is not beckoning you to walk through these doors so you can fail. He is with you every step of the way, and He will empower you to defeat every foe and bring Him glory in that new territory that is yours to possess in Jesus’ name!

Your open door may be an opportunity to shine the light of God’s Word and God’s love to your family or friends during this holiday season. It may be a door that will open to you in the new year. Regardless of when it is or what it is, the same God who opens doors will empower you to walk through them — and then He’ll be right with you to give you the wisdom and strength needed to overcome any giant that tries to meet you on the other side.

I know this is not a typical December, “Christmas-style” letter, but this is what was on my heart to share with you today. I want you to always know that if we can join you in prayer, we would be delighted to do so. To be honest, we are praying for you anyway, but when we are alerted to know exactly “how” to pray, it increases our effectiveness as we pray for you. So if you have a special need, please either call or write to let us know how we can get in agreement with you for God to show Himself mighty to you according to Jeremiah 33:3, which says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

And please pray for us as we continue marching forward by faith to push back darkness, to shine the light of God’s Word, and to take territory for the Kingdom of God. Together — as partners — we can make a difference in the lives of throngs of people who are crying out to God for help. They are waiting for God to respond to their prayers, and God wants to use us — you and us together — to bring them the answers they desperately need.

But before I close, I want to say we are specifically asking God to do something special for you this month and before the end of the year. I don’t know what it is, but that is what we are praying. We are asking God to do something special that will bless your life! And please, please pray for us as we continue pushing ahead to build our studio in Moscow, to finalize the purchase of our new headquarters in Tulsa, and to continue to minister effectually to every precious soul Jesus brings to us!

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friend,

It is such an honor to write to you again and encourage you in your walk with the Lord. This month, I am looking forward to traveling throughout the United States and sharing what the Lord has placed on my heart with many wonderful congregations. I’m especially excited to let you know that I will be hosting a Women’s Healing Meeting on Friday, October 3 at 7 PM CT at Millennial Church in Tulsa, OK. If you are in the area, I would love for you to join us! I believe this will be a very special time in God’s presence, and I am expectant for all He has in store for us. I encourage you to come with a heart full of faith — ready to worship, and to receive from the Word of God!

Today, I just want to give you some advice about carrying on healthy relationships with other people. I have counseled many married women over the years, and many of the things I’m going to tell you are lessons I have learned in my own marriage, but I believe that the foundational truths of this teaching can help someone in any kind of relationship. Whether you’re married or dating or just navigating family dynamics and friendships, I hope you will take this advice to heart and let it change the way you approach the people in your life who you love.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

Unfair Expectations

I have seen many instances in marriage where women set themselves up for failure from the very beginning of their married lives because they want their relationship with the man they love to meet all the needs of their hearts. Well, that just isn’t possible. There are some needs that we have that only Jesus can fulfill for us.

Psalm 18:1-2 says, “I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Notice that verse 2 doesn’t say, “My husband” or “my best friend” or even “my brother or sister is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my stronghold.” That would be a lot of responsibility for one person’s shoulders! As wonderful as our friends and family might be, their shoulders are simply not that big, and our false expectation that any of them can meet our every need sets us up for undue disappointment.

I have certainly faced that kind of disappointment before, and it was shortly after our family moved to the Soviet Union. You see, Rick was pouring himself into the work that we had come to do, busy with everything that comes with embarking on a new assignment from God. The vision he was carrying would prove to have a vast impact on that entire region of the world. However, it took an enormous amount of time and attention in those early days as Rick had to intently focus not only on constructing a physical church building, but also on raising up church leaders and laying the foundation for what was to become a huge ministry.

At the beginning, I was engaged in serving right at his side. I started and directed the praise and worship of our church, I helped Rick in the TV ministry, and I was blessed to be the stay-at-home mom of three wonderful little boys, who I even home-schooled for a time. But as Rick’s responsibilities and vision kept increasing, I began to feel that I was losing the place in his heart that belonged to me as his wife. Even though he was following God’s call as he was meant to, I began to harbor feelings of resentment and unforgiveness toward him because I felt so left out of his life.

Before I knew it, my negative feelings had so consumed me that I began to experience troubling symptoms in my body. At times, my hands and feet would go almost completely numb, and my unforgiveness opened the door to a great deal of fear in my life, including horrible panic attacks.

It took me much time to realize, but eventually, God revealed to me that, although my emotions were directed toward my husband, I was the source of my own bitterness and frustration. Like many women, I had great hopes that marriage would always be peaceful and happy, but the fact is, life often brings just the right circumstances to reveal our inner ugliness in full color. When we feel vulnerable and become needy toward others, that hidden ugliness floats right up to the surface and disrupts the peace and happiness we hoped for.

Fortunately for all of us, it’s often in our desperation that we discover the truth. As I struggled with all of those negative emotions concerning Rick and our marriage, I was desperately drawing close to God, and He was able to reveal to me the things that I was missing. You see, marriage is a beautiful thing. When you meet the love of your life, it’s okay to depend and lean on him or her, but God never intended for any of us to be totally dependent on another human being. I was putting too much pressure on Rick, expecting that he would meet all my needs, when my dependence really needed to be on God!

Perhaps you’re not yet married or don’t overly depend on your husband or wife, but you might be putting too much pressure on other relationships in your life. You may have an inordinate dependence on your friends or your children. Maybe it’s on your coworkers, your mentors, or your parents. It’s wonderful to have these people in your life, but Jesus wants you to trust Him with all your heart and to place your dependence completely on Him, something that no human relationship could take.

What’s wonderful is that when we realize this, we not only make ourselves happier, but we become better partners in our relationships. When I married Rick, I was holding on to the belief that he would be there for me at all times and would hold the answers to all my needs, but that was actually a selfish way to start a relationship. Over time, I realized that the Holy Spirit is the only One I should fully depend on, so I no longer felt the need to constantly look to Rick to meet all my needs. Once I settled that in my heart and allowed God to do a transforming work in me, I was able to concentrate more and more on what I could do for Rick instead of on what he could do for me. By turning my eyes to the Lord as my provider, I was free to enjoy Rick in a fresh, new way, and he was also able to enjoy our journey through life together in a way he’d never been able to before. I was finally able to give to him without wanting anything in return because of the secure, confident place I’d reached with the Lord.

Work in Progress

Friend, we have to recognize that Jesus is the Rock of our salvation — immovable, unshakable, and unchanging. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6), and He’s the way out of whatever problem we’re facing in our relationships, even if it’s a problem of our own making.

I want to make sure you understand this, because it is only by truly seeking Him that you will be able to experience His help. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “…we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

This verse makes it clear that our attention matters. Studies have shown that when an object other than the road draws a driver’s attention, it is the driver’s instinct to steer the vehicle toward that object. Of course, if the driver allows himself to be distracted long enough, he will end up causing a wreck.

Similarly, what we are looking at and focusing on determines where we will go in life. If we’re not looking at the Word of God, our emotions will be unstable and will lead us astray, causing emotional havoc and wreckage in our lives and relationships. So we must ask ourselves, “What has my attention? What am I looking at?” When we put our focus on Him, He holds us firmly in place. He alone provides a place of security that’s absolutely trustworthy, different from any place of safety and protection we’ve ever known. His gift of deliverance and freedom is deeper, wider, and higher than any pain or affliction that comes our way.

This type of deliverance usually doesn’t come through someone laying hands on us, and it usually doesn’t come overnight. Most often, we receive this kind of deliverance through a long process of seeking and working to draw near to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many times, we say that we want to grow in Christ, but we also want a quick way out of every test, trial, and feeling of discomfort, so I want to encourage you to watch out for that attitude. When trouble comes to each one of us and presses hard against our faith, we are presented with an opportunity for growth. We have to seize that opportunity because each of us is responsible for the condition of our own heart, regardless of our circumstances. Our deliverance has been completely paid for, but we must each make the decision to accept the freedom and healing that He has provided for us. Our growth will only happen as we choose to respond to Him and His Word with faith and humility, even when we feel we’ve been wronged or treated unfairly.

It may seem unfair that we have to put in all this work, especially if the wrong in a relationship is not our fault, but that is the only way we’ll ever be able to live in a healthy relationship with others. I have ministered to many women who have been abused and betrayed by someone close to them, and I can say from watching them that if you are bound in any way, you do not have to be stuck in that place. The Word of God can bring deliverance, growth, change, and confidence in who you are in Jesus. You can go to Him and let Him free you from the chains that have bound you — even the chains that may have to do with someone else’s choices.

The Lord can redeem any life in any situation, so we can be confident that whether our pain is a result of someone else’s actions or our own negative thoughts, God will turn it for good. Sometimes, we may not even realize what the source of our pain is, but He can reveal it to us and lead us to a better place, so we need to be actively seeking Him all the time so that He can lead us on the right path to a healthy relationship.

It’s Your Choice

In today’s world, it seems like we see so many times where people walk away from their marriage when things get hard or the relationship appears to be stagnant, and they do it only to get into another marriage where they have the same expectation that their “happily ever after” will somehow be ready-made with little or no effort on their part. I hope that this teaching has really helped you to see that this is just not the case. Each one of us is on a journey of growth and change, and that journey doesn’t just end when you find the love of your life or become a parent or find a friend who understands you. This is a lifelong journey, and it is wonderful to have people to share it with — as long as you are sharing it with God as well.

God made relationships, so He knows how to build a beautiful, healthy relationship, and it stands to reason that we need His help to nourish this lifelong process. Yielding to Him may not always be easy, because our flesh enjoys taking control, leaning on our own understanding, and having everything our own way, especially in our dealings with other people, but that is not God’s way, and His way is the only one that He will bless, prosper, and crown with His grace. Whatever relationship you are pursuing in this season of your life, God needs to be in it, so make sure that you are depending on Him rather than on another person who is just as unsteady as you. Learn to accept your responsibility so that you can do the hard work of searching yourself and making your relationship work.

I am so honored to have been able to share with you today, and I just want to remind you that we want to support you. Whether you’re struggling with a changing friendship, considering marriage, or needing freedom from dependence on someone else, prayer is a powerful tool, and here at Renner Ministries, we have a prayer team who is ready to stand with you for anything you need. Whatever you might need prayer for, we are ready to receive your request, so just call 1.844.473.6637 or send an email to prayer@deniserenner.org. We are believing for a radical change in your situation!

Before I close, I want to remind you to come join me at Millennial Church in Tulsa, OK, on Friday, October 3 for my Women’s Healing Meeting! It is going to be such a powerful time together! I also invite you to watch my weekly program, TIME with Denise Renner, live every Monday at 7 AM CT on YouTube or Facebook. You can also catch my program on Facebook every Wednesday at 12 PM CT, and all past programs are available on my Facebook page, and my YouTube channel. You can even watch my program on Victory channel or Daystar at 2 PM CT on Mondays or 8 AM CT Wednesdays respectively. I truly hope that you will take any of these opportunities to join me for more teachings that I pray will encourage you and help you to grow in the Lord.

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

God Desires Your Health and Prosperity

September Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friends,

Before I get into what is on my heart to share with you today, I want to say THANK YOU for your faithfulness to the Lord and for being among the best partners in the whole world. Denise and I are thankful to the Lord for you — and for our entire partner family. We are particularly grateful for your special generosity over the summer months. You are helping us to take the life-changing teaching of God’s Word to the ends of the earth. We are having a record response from people who are reaching out to us for prayer and spiritual support. Please pray for our whole team as they diligently respond to all these needs.

I also want to tell you that my new book The Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Tribulation — an End-Times Countdown and What Happens Next has been released! If you haven’t ordered your copy, I want to encourage you to get yours by calling 1-800-742-5593 or by going online to renner.org/rapture. I was able to send some pre-release copies to Christian leaders across the nation, and many of them have responded with such encouraging comments, stating that it is a book that is really on time for believers — it will clear up a lot of confusion and fear that people have on this important subject. I wanted you to be aware that it is finally available!

Today I want to talk to you about HEALING.

Each year, our ministry is blessed to receive countless prayer requests, many of which come from individuals seeking healing for themselves or for loved ones and friends. It is a deep honor to unite our faith with theirs and steadfastly trust in the manifestation of God’s healing promises in their lives. In response to our faith-filled prayers, people regularly reach out again to let us know that they (or those they know and love) received healing or grew progressively better after we prayed with them. Oh, how we love to hear those praise reports!

But there are also others with whom we agreed in prayer for healing who are still waiting for the answer to come. In some cases, those individuals have waited so long that it seems to them as if the answer has been endlessly delayed. Some have waited so long that hope appears to wear thin, and questions loom large: Why does my healing remain unseen? Why does healing elude me despite my steadfast faith? Or, Am I doing something wrong that prevents my healing from taking place? These instances leave people grappling with profound — and often unanswered — questions.

Today and over the next few months, I want to encourage your faith by focusing on healing. Let’s begin by focusing our attention on First John 5:14-15, which says, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

This passage assures us that we can possess unwavering conviction that when we petition for anything aligned with God’s will, He both listens and responds affirmatively. The word “confidence” in this verse is interpreted from the Greek word parresia, signifying a manner of expressing oneself boldly, candidly, and with straightforwardness. This bold kind of speech is often translated in the New Testament as the word “confidence.” Indeed, it depicts a confident kind of speaking — a daring to speak exactly what one believes or thinks with no hesitation or intimidation. Within this context, it means if we know our prayers are in harmony with God’s will, we have the liberty to approach God with boldness, honesty, and directness as we present our petitions to Him.

In fact, verse 14 goes on to say that “…if we ask anything according to His will, he heareth us….” The word “ask” is from a form of the Greek word aiteo, which conveys a sense of demanding or insisting. This term paints a picture of someone who approaches prayer with authority, unafraid to voice his needs and fully expecting to receive what he seeks. The confidence of such a person stems from the fact that he or she is asking “according to His [God’s] will.” This means that individual is not just randomly asking for anything he or she wishes, but is praying “according to His will.” When you pray with what aligns with God’s Scriptures, there is no need to be timid. Instead, you can stand firm, assert your faith, and expect God to respond!

First John 5:14 continues to say that if we pray according to His will — or according to what God has revealed in His Word — “He heareth us.” God’s ear is attuned to His own promises spoken back to Him, and that is what prompts Him to take action. While our emotions and needs matter deeply to Him, it is ultimately the confident, heartfelt recitation of His promises that stirs Him to respond. Therefore, understanding what God has revealed as His will, particularly concerning healing, is of utmost importance. Indeed, First John 5:14 states that God is moved to action when He hears a believer boldly praying the promises of His Word.

As mentioned before, God responds to prayers when they are aligned with the teachings and truths found in His Word. This is why it is crucial to align your prayers with His will. Knowing the will of God — and praying according to the will of God — is absolutely essential if you want to see your prayers answered. And it is absolutely God’s will for you to be healed and to live in health. You will see as this teaching unfolds that these blessings are included in Christ’s work of redemption on the Cross.

God’s Explicit Will for Your Life

In Third John, verse 2, the apostle John expressed the will of God when he wrote, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth.”

This verse is an unequivocal declaration of God’s explicit will for your life, and, hence, it is key for you to understand this verse. Having this verse cemented into your heart and mind will put you on a foundation so strong you can confidently release your faith for divine healing.

The word “wish” in this verse is a translation of the Greek word euchomai, which means to express one’s strongest desire or will. John was writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which means this was not only John’s strongest desire and will, but also God’s strongest desire for His people.

Since the explicit will of God for every believer is stated in this verse, we need to really examine it to discover exactly what is God’s will for each of us. John wrote, “…I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth.”

First, the words “above all things” are an interpretation of the Greek words peri panton. The word peri means a circumference and that which surrounds, and the word panton is all-inclusive and means everything. As a phrase, it pictures absolutely everything that encompasses you, surrounds you, and concerns you — and that means absolutely everything.

Then John added that it was his desire (and because he was writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he was actually expressing God’s will) that God’s people would “prosper.” The word “prosper” is interpreted from a form of the Greek word euodoo, which is a compound of the words eu and hodos. The word eu means good and pictures what is enjoyable, delightful, and pleasurable, and the word hodos is the Greek word for a road. As the compounded word euodoo that John used, it means to have a joyful, enjoyable, delightful, and pleasurable experience on every road of life you take.

In the ancient world, prosperity was frequently measured by the size of one’s home or the quantity of other possessions, as well as having enough finances to travel abroad and take vacations. For example, in Acts 19:25 when Paul was ministering with such great results in Ephesus that the idol-makers feared their “wealth” would be affected, the word “wealth” is translated from the Greek word euporia. This word is similar to euodoo in Third John 2 because it also means prosperity, wealth, and abundance. To have euporia meant to have the ability to travel and have an enjoyable traveling experience.

The idol-workers in Ephesus measured their prosperity and wealth by whether they had enough financial resources to travel and vacation abroad. Whether they were traveling to faraway places on expeditions to enhance their trade or their studies as explorers and hobbyists, or they were traveling and enjoying leisurely time away in a foreign land — travel was an indicator of a person’s wealth and status. These idol-workers feared that Paul’s preaching and the infiltration of the Gospel would cause people to stop buying the idols they made, thus affecting their income to the point that they would no longer be able to travel abroad and take vacations.

The way the word euodoo was used in history tells us that it was John’s (and God’s) will that believers “prosper,” meaning that God wants His people to have not only enough money to pay their basic bills, but also enough extra to enjoy life to the point they can travel and enjoy themselves.

In the First Century, traveling was an outward sign of prosperity and wealth. The same might be true today in the way some measure prosperity, but, largely, people measure wealth differently in modern society — for example, by the size of people’s homes or the quantity of their possessions or other resources. But the ability to travel was a pronounced mark of prosperity in the ancient world. Maybe traveling is not your dream, but according to the verses we’ve seen previously, the word “prosper” (euodoo) pictures having more than enough to pay your basic bills and sufficient resources to enjoy any road of life that you will ever take. In other words, it is not God’s will for you to struggle and barely make it in life, but to have enough financially to enjoy yourself along the way.

But notice John then added that it was his strongest desire (and God’s) that the people of God “be in health.” The word “health” is interpreted from a form of hugiaino, a word that depicts being physically healthy, in good working order, and in sound condition, and it includes mental soundness. The reason it is translated as the word “whole” is that it carries the idea of wholeness or of one who is complete and sound in every part of his being.

In John 5, we discover that a form of the word hugiaino is used four times concerning the lame man at the pool of Bethesda.

In John 5:6, Jesus asked the lame man, “Wilt thou be made whole?” The word “whole” is from a form of hugiaino, which signifies Jesus was asking if he wanted to be healthy, in good working order, and sound physically and mentally.
In John 5:9, we read that after Jesus told the man to pick up his bed and walk, he was “made whole.” The word “whole” is again translated from a form of hugiaino, which means he was immediately made healthy, restored to good working order, and made sound physically and mentally.
In John 5:11, after the religious leaders asked who healed him, the healed man answered that it was Jesus who had made him “whole.” The word “whole” is again translated from a form of hugiaino, which means he testified that it was Jesus who’d made him healthy, in good working order, and sound physically and mentally.
In John 5:14, after Jesus found the man, He told him, “Behold, thou art made whole.” The word “whole” is again translated from a form of hugiaino, which means Jesus jubilantly acknowledged that the man was now healthy, in good working order, and sound physically and mentally.

So when John wrote that it was his (and God’s) strongest desire and will that God’s people be in “health,” it meant that God wants His people to be healthy, physically in good working order, and sound physically and mentally.

In Third John 2, John wrote, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health…,” and we have covered the words “wish,” “above all things,” “prosper,” and “health.” But then John added “as thy soul prospereth.” The word “soul” refers to the emotions, mind, and will. Herein we find that God not only wants us to be in good physical health, but He wants His Word to transform our souls to the point that every thought — or every road the mind finds itself traveling — will be filled with the abundance of God’s grace. Overall, we find that it is God’s explicit will for His people to be healthy, in good physical working order, sound physically, and abundantly blessed with good mental health.

The RIV (Renner Interpretive Version) of Third John 2 says:

My dearly loved brothers, it is my strongest desire that you prosper in every way that concerns you — that you not only have enough money to pay your basic bills but enough extra so you can really enjoy yourselves on every road of life that you take — and that you be healthy, in good, physical working order, sound physically in every way, and that you are blessed with good mental health.

Today I want you to see that the Bible clearly states it is God’s unequivocal will for you to prosper on every road you take in life and to continuously enjoy the benefits of good physical and mental health — and that if you pray with faith according to God’s will, He hears you, and He will do what you requested!

When we come back next month, I want to pick up here and continue. Healing is needed by everyone at some time, so my heartfelt prayer is that the Holy Spirit will use this series of letters to enlighten your understanding and provide long sought-after answers that will lead you into the healing and health Jesus purchased at the Cross for you.

Thanks so much for letting me minister to you today. Please remember that we are here to pray for you, and if we can agree with you in prayer about anything on your heart or that you are facing, we are waiting to join our faith with yours for God to do what needs to be done. Just call 1-800-742-5593 or write to us at prayer@renner.org. And be praying for us, too, as we do what Jesus has called us to do. Thank you again for being such a faithful friend and partner!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

The Life You Leave Behind

August Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friend,

I want to ask you a very important question today: Is there anything more important, more precious, and more powerful than an encounter with Jesus? Is there anything that could happen in your life that is more important or more powerful than a one-on-one encounter with Him? I can answer that question for you right now: No, there is nothing.

Now, a lot of people try to replace this experience. You may know people like that; they’re searching for an experience, but maybe they try to get it with drugs, sex, or alcohol. Maybe they try to get it with all the riches or all the education they can attain. These people know that they are missing an experience of some kind, but all the things they try are shadows compared to the real thing, an encounter with Jesus, because that encounter will completely change your life.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

Before I tell you about the life-changing, one-on-one encounter that you can have with Jesus, I want to remind you that this is not some strange or frightening thing. The Word of God tells us:

“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

—1 Corinthians 6:17

It is so important for us to understand this, because God is saying that we are one spirit with Him. This means that you’re not over here in the corner while God’s off across the room or up in Heaven, and you have to wait for Him to come back to you for your encounter. Instead, God is on the inside of you in the person of the Holy Spirit!

We’re not trying to get to God because He already lives inside of us! He didn’t save us so that we would obey all the rules and keep all the regulations, but He invited us into a divine relationship, a divine communion with Him. When the Holy Spirit came inside of us, He didn’t say, “I’m going to stand over here, and you’re going to stand over there.” No, He said, “We’re going to be one spirit. Together.”

He is always with you, and it’s normal for us to have an encounter with Him, but when we come to Him, we can’t walk away with our lives looking the same, and that’s what I want to talk to you about today.

Someone You Wouldn’t Suspect

Sometimes we can forget who Jesus came for. If you’re in a good place where you’re not doing any huge sins and everything’s going right in your life, it can be easy to start judging people who are struggling with sin, and when you are the one living in sin, your shame can make you think that God doesn’t want to be near you. Neither of those thoughts are right, but we still think them, and that’s why the person that I’m going to talk to you about, who had a one-on-one encounter with Jesus, is someone who was not living a good and godly life: the woman at the well.

In John 4, starting in verse 4, we learn that Jesus and His disciples were traveling, and He was tired, so He sat down at a well near this city, and His disciples went into the city to buy food. While Jesus was leaning on that well, a woman came to get water, and verses 7-9 tell us about this exchange between them:

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food

Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”

This interaction tells us that what Jesus was doing was against culture. It was very inappropriate for a man and a woman to be talking alone, and what was even worse is that she was a Samaritan and He was a Jew. If He wanted to act properly, Jesus had no reason to be talking to this woman, but He wasn’t trying to obey cultural rules. He was on assignment, and it involved something that was going to happen with this woman.

Now, this interaction was not just culturally inappropriate; this woman was living a lifestyle that even her own people would have looked down on. We can see this in verses 16-18:

Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.”

Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

Think for a moment about the picture that we get of this woman. If you knew a woman that had been married five times, what would you think? I know I would probably think that she’s not a very nice woman. We might think this woman has probably hurt a lot of people and has a lot of enemies. Even more than that, she is currently living with another man that she’s not married to. Well, now you might be thinking that she’s very wild and unfaithful. She probably has emotional problems because she can’t stay married to anybody. People probably talked about her so that if you had walked down the streets of Sychar, you would have heard somebody talking about this woman and how terrible and unstable she was.

We might think or say all those things, because we’re human, and our minds and our emotions can get caught up in judgement, but Jesus was focused on something else. Maybe she did have all these problems with her behavior and her personality and her reputation, but He knew that that was not her real problem. Yes, her life was a mess, but the real problem, the problem that Jesus wanted to fix, was that she didn’t know the gift of God yet.

Friend, maybe you’ve seen the blessings of the Lord, and you’ve lived a life faithful to Him, but you need to recognize this problem. What’s the difference between you and this woman? What’s the difference between you and that stranger who’s caught up in a horrible lifestyle? What’s the difference between you and that family member whose actions you are just aghast at and can’t believe that someone could do something like that? What’s the difference? Is it that you’re better than them? Do you have the right to look your nose down on them and say, “If I had their problems, I would never act like that”?

No! The real difference is that you know the gift of God and they don’t. Have you ever broken a rule that you just didn’t know was there? Have you ever forgotten a rule you did know and made a mistake? Then you have experienced the same problem as this Samaritan woman. On the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them” — why? — ”Because they don’t know.”

This precious woman didn’t know the gift of God, but Jesus was coming into her space. She was having an encounter with Him, and this woman was beginning to know some things.

A Life Changed

This is her encounter with Jesus:

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”

The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

—John 4:25-29

The thing I want to point out to you today is that that woman came to the well to get water, but when she had the encounter with Jesus, what did she leave at the well?

Her water pot.

This woman was so amazed by who she was talking to and what He was saying to her. She was so amazed by His very presence that she forgot that she even came there for water, and that is what it means to have an encounter with Jesus! When you have a one-on-one experience with Him, you can’t walk away with what you brought, because you have your hands full with something else. That woman came to the well for water that would perish, but she left with living water!

What did you leave behind when you came to Jesus? What did you take a hold of in that exchange? Friend, it is so good to remember these things; think of that precious woman, look at all that she left behind. Water was the most important thing for her that day, but she left it behind and took a hold of living water. She left behind her messy life and took hold of a testimony about a man who had changed her life and knew everything about her, and it was so powerful she just had to tell the whole city to come and talk to Him.

Remember today what you left behind when you came to Jesus. Maybe you’ve picked up some of those things again. Maybe you’ve picked up offense or worry or ingratitude. The wonderful thing is that Jesus doesn’t just give us one opportunity. He doesn’t say, “You had your chance. You shouldn’t have picked that up again.” He knew we would pick those things back up, and He wants to encounter us and make the exchange all over again. Whatever you’re holding onto or whatever you’ve picked back up, it’s time to leave it behind. Instead, pick up thankfulness; pick up trust in God; pick up forgiveness, because that’s what an encounter with Jesus gives you.

I know it can be hard to drop what you’re holding onto. Maybe you don’t even know what it is yet, or maybe you know exactly what it is but you’re just too ashamed that you went back to it to tell anybody. Maybe you’ve even fallen into judging others for picking back up what they left behind in Christ. Wherever you are in your journey, our prayer team is here for you! We are ready to pray with you for anything you are facing, so please give us a call at 1.844.473.6637 or email us your prayer requests at prayer@deniserenner.org.

Before I close, I also want to invite you to my weekly program, TIME with Denise Renner, where I get the opportunity to open up the Word of God and share with you what is on my heart. You can watch live every Monday at 7:00 AM CT on Facebook or YouTube, or Wednesdays at 12:00 PM CT on Facebook. My program is also on Victory Channel Mondays at 2 PM CT and on Daystar Wednesdays at 8 AM CT. I am always so grateful to be able to share this time with you, so I hope you will join me!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

Embracing a Balanced Lifestyle

August Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friends,

Greetings in Jesus’ precious name! In my letter today, I want to share some things I’ve learned in life to underscore the importance of embracing a balanced lifestyle. Then I’ll give you a New Testament example of one whose health was possibly jeopardized because of an imbalanced lifestyle. I pray this letter blesses and encourages you.

Before I get into the teaching, I want to say THANK YOU for being one of the most amazing friends and partners in the world. Denise and I and our entire ministry team are so thankful to God for you. I always say it’s because of God’s grace and the giving of our partners that we are able to do what we’re doing. Just today I received updated information about where we’re reaching people, and it is simply thrilling to see responses coming from all over the globe. People everywhere are crying out for teaching that will answer their questions. I’m so thankful God is using us to bring them teaching they can trust. You are such a huge part of it all — so I wanted to say thank you!

Denise and I recently shared in a special video that during the summer months, often people give less to the ministry, and this makes it challenging as we endeavor to stay on target reaching people with sound Bible teaching. We rarely make a financial request, but we would be so thankful for any extra gift this month so we stay on track with our assignment. Most of our partners know I rarely make this kind of request, so please know that I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t feel the need was important. Our partners already do so much, and we are so thankful to God for each one! If you haven’t seen this short video of Denise and me but would like to view it, you can do so at renner.org/summer.

I also want to remind you that my new book The Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Tribulation — An End-Times Countdown and What Happens Next is now available at our online store at renner.org, or you can call 1-800-742-5593 to order your copy or copies. We are grateful that we can offer it as a pre-release at a discounted price. This book really provides answers to a lot of people’s questions — and from now until its release on September 2, we are offering it at a 25-percent discount.

But let me get into what is on my heart for you today… It was, and still is, ingrained in the Renner family that we do not surrender to sickness. We generally possess a steadfast refusal to succumb to illness and a fierce commitment to “power through” any physical frailty. This ethos was forged into my grandfather, a German immigrant who toiled relentlessly to carve out an education and meaningful existence in the New World. He passed this mindset to my father, who then infused it in my sisters and me. From a young age, my siblings and I were taught to stride forward, regardless of fatigue or discomfort. As a result, we are tireless workers! Over the years, this mentality has resulted in my having short patience with people who go “too easy” on themselves when they could be accomplishing more with their lives.

I’m deeply grateful for the work ethic my father imparted to me — a guiding principle that blends well with the teachings of Jesus in John 15:16, where He told His disciples to “go and bring forth fruit.” This verse impacted my life so much that one of my foremost prayers every day is that I will be fruitful and productive and yield lasting results. In fact, as I lay in bed each evening when the day draws to a close, I reflect on my day to assess whether I’ve been fruitful and productive. The industrious spirit my father instilled in me, intertwined with my conviction drawn from Jesus’ words in John 15:16, has created in me a commitment to live a life brimming with purpose, and that mindset leaves no room for idleness.

All of this is good in a measure, but as years passed, I failed to see the need to take a pause or rest along the way. I likened myself to a perpetual engine, tirelessly whirring without heed for downtime. Even the mightiest of industrial machines demands maintenance and periodic rest, yet I stubbornly denied such needs until middle age. Alas, in my 50s, I faced a physical collapse so profound that rest was no longer a choice, but a necessity. That jarring wake-up call proved to be a vital course correction that invigorated my productivity and, I believe, ultimately prolonged my life. Yet as time marches on, I must honestly admit that the draw to fill my days to the brim and push past sensible boundaries is still a temptation I have to overcome.

The call of God upon my life is very serious to me. I am deeply convinced that God has given us a significant mandate to take the teaching of the Word to people across the planet. This affects my desire to be fruitful and productive and significantly influences the way I navigate life. The fleeting nature of time is also very real to me, and this awareness urges me to use every moment to its fullest. Yet in my desire for peak productivity, I sometimes find myself ensnared by the trap of overextending myself — trying to squeeze an endless array of tasks into an unrealistic time frame. Although I can maintain this relentless pace temporarily, the inevitable consequence is the toll of exhaustion and illness. This outcome is not a matter of a lack of faith, but rather a lapse in practicing balance and common sense.

Since I’m being honest, let me give you an example from a recent trip to the United States, during which I was slated to speak at a staggering 56 events, including in-person and online TV and podcast interviews, in 32 days. First of all, the journey from Moscow to our initial stopping point in the U.S. was a marathon in and of itself, taking us a grueling 56 hours door to door. Instead of taking a day to catch my breath upon arrival, I dove headfirst into my commitments at a relentless tempo that persisted without a pause throughout the entire trip.

It was a Herculean task to fulfill every engagement on the itinerary, and as the days wore on, the strain became more difficult to carry. Nevertheless, each morning I summoned every ounce of my resolve, pulling myself up “by my own bootstraps” and determined that I would joyfully fulfill every obligation. Despite the exhaustion that was mounting day by day, in typical form, I powered through it all until I had completed every single commitment I had set out to achieve.

As we embarked on the grueling 58 hours of flights back to Moscow, I noticed an all-too-familiar sore feeling in my throat — a sign that I had pushed myself beyond my limits. The reason I call it a “familiar” sign is that I have frequently experienced a bout of sickness after sustaining a long and unrealistic schedule. For me, such bouts of sickness have nothing to do with a failure to walk by faith in God’s promises for healing and health — they are usually a sign that I have once again pushed my physical body beyond its limits. In my relentless pursuit of productivity and eagerness to serve as many people as possible in the shortest span of time, I have pushed myself beyond my limits over the years. Time and time again, it has left me besieged with a sore throat and a stubborn cold. Once again, this is not an issue of faith; it is an issue of common sense.

To this day, I still grapple with committing to an overly ambitious schedule, but, thankfully, I’m surrounded by a loving family and a caring ministry team who love me enough to remind me, “You’re taking on too much in too short a time. It’s time to reel it in and focus on what’s feasible.” I usually do not like it when they tell me this, but later I’m thankful that they stepped in to help me. Now I am finally moving at a pace that is more realistic.

But what does a realistic pace look like for me? Each year, I make it my goal to write four substantial books, typically ranging from 350 to 850 pages each, and each year’s goal is to reach this four-book target. Alongside these extensive projects, I churn out a steady stream of content weekly, contributing to various ministry publications. I sit in front of a TV camera and film approximately 700 different television and media programs annually, and each new TV series we launch is accompanied by extensive study guides that I diligently help create.

Monthly, I appear as a guest for numerous online interviews, some sporadically, others regularly, while also participating in key meetings with our top ministry leaders scattered across the globe. I speak at about half of the church services at our physical Moscow Good News Church, and I play a leading role in our online Moscow Good News Church, a vibrant community with more than 250,000 regular participants.

Beyond these commitments, my ministry takes me across the world to minister and speak at churches, conferences, and gatherings throughout Russia, Europe, America, and beyond. Between these engagements, I meet with key government and religious figures in Moscow, and I also make it a priority to hit the gym three times a week for exercise, plus make sure that I fulfill my annual checkups at the doctor’s and dentist’s offices. In addition to fulfilling these responsibilities, I treasure my roles as husband to Denise, father to Paul, Philip, and Joel, father-in-law to their wonderful spouses, and proud grandfather to our eight precious grandchildren.

Every year, during the last week of December, I sit down to review what I accomplished that year. (I encourage you to do this as well. When you write down what you did or didn’t do, it helps you to be honest about your level of productivity so you can make the necessary adjustments for the new year.) As a part of my review, I list all my major accomplishments to gauge whether I’ve been genuinely effective and fruitful. Simply being busy isn’t my aim. My goal is to produce fruit that remains, to produce teaching that people can trust, to strengthen the Church, and to live in a way that gives glory to God. But as the year draws to a close and I perform my own annual review, no matter how much my family, my team, and I have achieved, I routinely find myself lamenting that I wasn’t able to do more. I find myself trying to figure out a way to more effectively use my time to be more productive in the upcoming year.

What you just read is much more balanced and realistic than what I tried to do in my earlier years. I don’t know what you accomplish in a single year, but please do not compare your annual output to mine, as we are all at different stages of capacity and different levels of fruitfulness. Second Corinthians 10:12 says it is not wise to measure ourselves by others or to compare ourselves to others. It is important that every person finds his own balance — his own pace of work and periods of rest — so that he can be fruitful and productive in a way that does not throw off his physical, mental, and spiritual equilibrium. As I said earlier, my temptation is to try to do more in a time frame than is realistic, and at times when I’ve overdone it, it has repeatedly affected me in all the ways I just described.

A life lived out of balance not only affects productivity and schedule, it also strains your finances and relationships, and it can take a toll on your physical, mental, and spiritual health. This is why, at the dawn of creation, God exemplified the importance of rest. Genesis 2:2-3 says, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

To reaffirm the need to devote a single day to God to rest, God gave the principle of the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:8-11, He said, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Many argue about the role of the Sabbath for a New Testament believer, but that is not the topic of this letter. What is abundantly clear is that God has ordained a day of rest — a sacred interlude for halting one’s routine in order to worship Him and rejuvenate one’s body, mind, and spirit. The notion of “rest” is a deeply personal affair, varying in application from one person to another. Recognizing what defines rest for you is essential, and it is just as imperative to refrain from projecting your interpretation onto others.

Take, for example, the idea of lounging on a sun-drenched beach — it is an idyllic retreat for some, but for me, it’s a torturous ordeal. Not only will it ruin my so-called time of rest, but it will ruin everyone else’s time, too, because I will be so miserable that it will affect everyone around me. For Denise, a visit to the mall is restful, but for me, a venture to the shopping mall is similarly torturous and leaves me exhausted rather than refreshed. Conversely, immersing myself in the quiet halls of a museum filled with ancient artifacts breathes life back into me, though Denise might find it an exhausting effort to accompany me there, despite her best intentions. Denise and I have divergent definitions of “rest,” but we have learned how to negotiate our various styles of rest into our combined schedules.

Balance and rest are inherently personal pursuits, and it is vital that you discover what restores equilibrium for you. Perpetually working without finding some kind of reprieve is a type of self-abuse. You are treating yourself like a mechanical machine that neither demands rest nor requires care, but this lifestyle ultimately leads to an inevitable breakdown. I know this all too well, having pushed myself beyond my limits repeatedly over past years.

Today I have a far more balanced existence, and life is both productive and rewarding. Sometimes when others glance at my daily and weekly schedule, they wonder where “rest” fits into the picture. Yet I have discovered a rhythm of work and rest that works for me, and Denise has identified her own rhythm of work and rest — and together, we’ve crafted a harmonious blend that supports each other’s productivity. This decision has resulted in the sustenance of our vitality and strength, and it enables us to fulfill the endeavors to which we feel called.

Allow me to share a story from the New Testament that highlights the possible perils of an unbalanced lifestyle. This narrative features Epaphroditus, one of Paul’s dearest friends — a faithful minister with steadfast dedication to his calling. Despite Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross that provided healing and health, Epaphroditus found himself in the throes of a serious illness. The account in the book of Philippians suggests that his ceaseless and relentless work in the ministry led him to overextend himself, and it ultimately compromised his well-being. Could it be that his tireless devotion and desire to do too much too fast inadvertently opened an “entry point” for the enemy to try to bring him down and take him out?

In Philippians 2:25, Paul writes about Epaphroditus, saying, “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” I emphasize this verse, as it unveils the profound importance of this person in Paul’s journey — a genuine brother, cherished colleague, steadfast comrade, and devoted minister who commanded Paul’s deep respect.

In Philippians 2:26, Paul continues, “For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.”

When Paul discovered that the news of Epaphroditus’ illness had reached the ears of the Philippians, he understood that it would pierce their hearts and weigh heavily upon their spirits. The seriousness of Epaphroditus’ condition evoked a fear that they might never again witness the warmth of his smile or be graced by the melody of his laughter. The term “sick” finds its roots in the Greek word astheneia, which encompasses a broad spectrum of physical frailties and weaknesses. But as we delve into the following verse, it becomes clear that this malady afflicted Epaphroditus so severely that it brought him to the very brink of death.

Philippians 2:27 adds, “For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”

In Greek, the word “indeed” serves as an emphatic exclamation and highlights the profound gravity of the situation. The term “sick” is, again, from the Greek word astheneia, which embraces a spectrum of physical frailties and weaknesses. The words “nigh unto” are an interpretation of the Greek term paraplesion, which is a compound of the words para, meaning beside, and plesion, which is the Greek equivalent of a neighbor. When compounded, the word paraplesion, which is used by Paul in this verse, pictures someone who resides in close proximity to a neighbor. In this case, Epaphroditus was living nearby to “death.”

The word “death” is derived from a form of the Greek word thanatos, which signifies either death or a death sentence. As a complete phrase, it means that Epaphroditus “was so sick that he was living right alongside death.” It was as if a death-sentence were hanging over his life. Epaphroditus was so perilously close to death that he was practically its next-door neighbor.

But Paul then wrote that “…God had mercy on him….” The word “mercy” is from the Greek word eleeo, which depicts a heart-wrenching emotion that compels one to action. This tells us that, driven by deep compassion, God intervened to bring about Epaphroditus’ recovery from a perilous situation. The specifics of his healing — whether it was through miraculous means, faith and prayer, or a combination of spiritual and medical efforts — are not disclosed in the text. But what is certain is that Epaphroditus lingered under the grim shadow of death for quite some time before finally regaining his health.

The narrative refrains from revealing the precise reason for Epaphroditus’ illness, yet Philippians 2:25 paints a picture of him as a steadfast laborer, passionately committed to his ministerial duties. Experts tend to interpret the scripture as suggesting that his unwavering dedication, potentially compounded by stress and insufficient rest, might have ushered in the illness that threatened his life. This was not a trivial ailment but a severe condition that brought him to the brink of death. However, through divine intervention, he was granted recovery and was able to return to his essential ministry work.

In this story, we see the example of a devoted servant of God who grappled with physical ailments, even though Christ had secured his healing and lasting health on the Cross. But by doing too much of a good thing with no pause, it appears that he opened the door to an attack. But he found the path back to health through a mixture of faith, fervent prayer, likely medical aid, and much-needed rest.

If you have overdone it for too long and now your health is jeopardized in some way, God’s mercy is also present to restore you. If God will do it for me, and if God will do it for Epaphroditus, God will also do it for you. But once you are restored, it is vital that you learn — as hard as it may be — to find a rhythm of work and rest that is balanced. It is vital that you discover what lifestyle works best to bring equilibrium to your life.

If you ignore this truth, sooner or later, the devil will discover a way to slip into your life, targeting your body, emotions, or mind, with the aim of dragging you down and snuffing you out. Instead, why not adopt a proactive and preventative approach? Cultivate a lifestyle of balance in which you’re empowered to achieve much while also ensuring you get the necessary rest along the way. Your body will express its gratitude, your spouse will be appreciative, your friendships and other relationships will flourish more, and you’ll enjoy happiness and health throughout your life.

I realize this letter is a little different from what I would normally share, but I simply felt the need to encourage you this month to find the rhythm of work and rest that the Lord wants you to have. I pray that what I shared has encouraged you to rethink this issue for yourself and that the Holy Spirit will help you to devise a plan that works best for you!

As I close, please remember that we are here to pray for you. Just email us at prayer@renner.org or call us at 1-800-742-5593 — we are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT. We will really pray for you, and we believe Jesus will do what needs to be done in your life. And please, pray for us as we are pushing forward by faith to do what Jesus has commissioned us to do. It’s a huge task that requires many hands and hearts, and I am thankful that your own hand and heart are a part of what we do. Oh, we are so thankful for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

The Battle is Not Yours

July Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friend,

I want to take a moment to thank you for reading this letter. Your prayers, encouragement, and support mean more to me than words can express. I deeply appreciate you and your heart for the Lord. It’s such a joy to walk this journey of faith with you, trusting God for His guidance, power, and provision in every area of our lives.

Today, I want to share with you about the incredible power of worship. Worship is more than a song or words—it is a powerful act that aligns us with heaven and opens the door for God to move mightily in our lives.

Let me share a teaching with you from 2 Chronicles 20 that shows how worship can turn impossible situations into victories. In this passage, King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah faced a terrifying threat: an enemy army three times their size. It seemed certain they would be defeated. In the middle of his fear, King Jehoshaphat made a powerful decision—he positioned himself to seek the Lord. He proclaimed a fast and led his people in prayer and worship.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

What stands out to me is how Jehoshaphat prayed. He began by declaring who God is:

“O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” —2 Chronicles 20:6

In worship, he reminded himself and his people of God’s greatness and faithfulness. This is such a powerful example for us. When we face challenges, worship helps us shift our focus from the problem to the One who is greater than any obstacle.

Jehoshaphat then told God the problem: the enemy had come to take what God had given them. He concluded with these words, which are so honest and relatable:

“We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us, nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
—2 Chronicles 20:12

What a beautiful posture of worship—humility, trust, and surrender. God does not expect us to know what to do all the time, and when we admit it to him like Jehoshaphat did, He is overjoyed to help us.

We see that God’s response was clear and encouraging:

“Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
—2 Chronicles 20:15

What an amazing promise! The Lord gave the people instructions: they didn’t need to fight, but they needed to stand still and position themselves to see His salvation.

Early the next morning, Jehoshaphat appointed singers to go before the army, declaring, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever” (2 Chronicles 20:21). As they worshipped, God Himself set ambushes against their enemies, and the enemy armies turned on each other. What could have been a day of defeat turned into a miraculous victory and blessing.

Friend, this is the power of worship. When we lift our eyes to God, magnify His greatness, and trust Him with our battles, we open the door for heaven to move. Worship shifts the atmosphere, silences fear, and aligns us with God’s purposes. It reminds us that the battle is not ours but the Lord’s.

I also want to encourage you with a testimony. A dear friend of mine once faced a terrifying situation: her daughter fell gravely ill with a disease that had taken other children’s lives. In that moment of fear, she, like Jehoshaphat, positioned herself to seek the Lord. As she prayed and worshipped, she heard the Holy Spirit say, “Don’t fear.” Strengthened by this word, she laid hands on her daughter in faith, and God raised her up completely healed. Worship brought the presence and power of God into that impossible situation!

If you are facing a battle today, I encourage you to worship. Declare God’s greatness over your situation. Remind yourself of His promises and faithfulness. Speak the name of Jesus, which is higher than any other name—higher than sickness, fear, or any challenge. When you worship, you align yourself with the power of heaven and open the door for God to move in miraculous ways.

If you need prayer, we are here for you. You can call us at 1.844.473.6637 or email us at prayer@deniserenner.org to pray personally with a member of our team. It would be our honor to stand with you in faith and believe God for your breakthrough.

I want to invite you to join me for my TV program, TIME with Denise Renner, every Monday at 7 AM CT and Wednesday at 12 PM CT on Facebook or YouTube, where I go into greater depth on this life-changing topic.

Thank you again for being part of this ministry. Your prayers and partnership are making an eternal difference in so many lives. I am so grateful for you, and I pray for you daily. You are precious to me, and I thank God for your heart to serve Him.

May the Lord bless you and fill your life with His peace, power, and provision as you seek Him and worship Him. Together, we are witnessing His kingdom come and His will be done!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

What Jesus’ Anointing Can Do For You

July Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friends,

Greetings in Jesus’ wonderful name! I am really excited about what I am going to share in my letter today. Last month, we reflected on the incredible gift of Christ’s redemption — releasing us from the marketplace of sin and inducting us into the family of God. This month, although we take a different angle, we continue to explore that same redeeming power through the lens of Jesus’ anointing and His unchanging nature, for the One who redeems us is also the Anointed One — steadfast in His love, His purpose, and His power. Jesus’ powerful anointing is still active today and is available to you right now. Please read every word to the end of the letter because it is packed with what the anointing on Jesus can do for you right now.

But I want to FIRST say thank you for being the amazing friend and partner you are with this ministry. This morning as I was reading my Bible and praying, I stopped right in the middle of my Bible reading to pray for our partners. I had already prayed earlier for them, but as I read my Bible, my heart became filled with gratitude for what each person does. I am so thankful to God for you and for all you do to help us fulfill what Jesus has commissioned us to do. You are such a significant part of this ministry, and I want you to know how deeply thankful we are to God for you.

As Denise and I recently shared in a video that I sent to friends and partners, very often during summer months, people give less to the ministry, and this makes it difficult for us to stay on target in reaching people with the teaching of the Bible. We rarely make a financial request, but we would be so thankful for any extra gift during July and August so we stay on track with what God has asked us to do. You know that I rarely make this kind of request, so please know that I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t feel the need was important. You already do so much, and we are so thankful to God for you! And we thank you for praying for us as we do what Jesus has assigned to our ministry. If you haven’t already seen this short video clip but would like to see it, you can view it at renner.org/summergift.

I also want to remind you that my new book The Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Tribulation is now available at our website, or you can call 1-800-742-5593 to order your copy. The book is being printed right now, and we’ll have it in our hands soon. I can hardly wait for people to get it! We are grateful that we can offer it as a pre-release at a discounted price, plus a flat shipping rate of $5.00 per book ordered (U.S. orders only). You will probably want to order multiple copies of this book because it provides answers to a lot of people’s questions. Also, for a limited time — from June 30 to July 14 — our Independence Day sale is happening in our online store at renner.org. During this time, every Renner product is on sale at a 25-percent discount (international shipping rates apply)!

Now let’s dive into the amazing facets of Jesus’ anointing from Luke 4, where we read that Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath, ready to participate in the sacred readings of Scripture. When His turn comes to read, Jesus unrolls the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, selecting the passage from Isaiah that speak of the anointing that would rest upon the Messiah. As Jesus reads with authority, He astonishes the congregation by proclaiming that these prophetic words are realized in Him.

This bold declaration ignited a fiery anger among many of the listeners, who — unable to fathom such a claim — were driven to a frenzy. They rose, intent on silencing Him forever.

However, in a miraculous turn of events, Jesus calmly passed through the chaos unscathed and left behind the angered throng (see Luke 4:28-30). Departing from Nazareth, He resettled in Capernaum and began a new chapter of His ministry.

In Luke 4:16-19, we read of that very moment when Jesus took the scroll of Isaiah and began to read. It says, “And he [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

In these verses, Jesus announces that He is the Messiah — that is, Christ or the Anointed One — and then He vividly describes what that anointing upon Him would accomplish in those who come to Him by faith. Hebrews 13:8 reassures us that Jesus remains unchanging, and His works today are as potent as they were 2,000 years ago. And since He is the same today as He was yesterday, it is vital for us to understand what He was anointed to do in the past so we can fully grasp what He continues to offer those who seek Him in the present.

Indeed, the words of Hebrews 13:8 irrefutably affirm that the works Jesus was anointed to perform in the Gospels are the same works He is empowered to accomplish today. In Luke 4:18, Jesus spoke of six categories of human ailments that His anointing would change for those who came to Him by faith. But as you will see, since this was true of His anointing 2,000 years ago, it is still true of His anointing today — for He and His anointing never change!

#1: Jesus Is An Economic Game-Changer

First, we read in Luke 4:18 that Jesus was anointed “to preach the gospel to the poor.” In the Greek language, there are numerous words that can be used to depict poverty, but the word “poor” in this verse is drawn from the Greek word ptochos. It is a word that transcends the usual depiction of poverty, and it portrays images of those trapped in the deepest depths of destitution, utterly devoid of resources — a state of despair, indigence, and impoverishment. But Jesus declared that He was anointed to bring a message that would produce profound economic transformations for those who languished in the direst poverty.

Because Hebrews 13:8 declares Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, this tells us that since Jesus was an economic “game-changer” for those devoid of resources 2,000 years ago, He continues to be an economic game-changer today for those who suffer in the grip of extreme poverty in our modern world. The anointing to break the stronghold of poverty was upon Jesus and it is still on Jesus. And that powerful anointing to this very day unleashes a force that shatters the chains of hopelessness for those ensnared in destitution. Because Jesus’ nature has never changed, to this day that anointing provides hope to those who are devoid of resources and lifts them from the depths of indigence and impoverishment.

Again, Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus and His anointing have not changed or waned over time. The same divine force that shattered the chains of poverty 2,000 years ago remains just as potent and active today. So if you’ve been caught in the relentless grip of financial hardship, know that you can turn to God in prayer with confidence and unwavering faith. You can tap into the timeless anointing of Christ, calling upon it to disrupt the cycle of poverty and usher change into your life, just as it did those many centuries past.

#2: Jesus Heals the Brokenhearted

Second, we read in Luke 4:18 that Jesus was anointed “to heal the brokenhearted.” The word “brokenhearted” is translated from a form of the Greek word suntribo, which describes the crushing of grapes with the feet or the smashing and grinding of bones into dust. Taken in context, this word depicts people who have been walked on by others, those who have been crushed by others, or those who feel they have been smashed to pieces by life or relationships. By using the Greek word suntribo, Jesus was declaring, “I am anointed to heal those who have been crushed by others and who feel walked on or smashed to pieces by life and relationships.”

The word “heal” in this verse is translated from a form of the Greek word iaomai, which means to cure or to heal, and it frequently referred to a progressive cure. Unlike instant recuperation, this word depicts a healing power that progressively reverses a condition over a period of time or a sickness that is progressively healed rather than instantaneously healed. Although the anointing on Christ often yields immediate and miraculous outcomes, this word iaomai tells us of a different manifestation of His anointing. Approximately 2,000 years ago, when Christ’s anointing touched people who were deeply crushed by others — or by life itself — and were emotionally devastated as a result, the anointing He released moved deeply into their shattered emotions and minds and began the process of mending. That anointing invisibly worked unabated inside them until the person reached full recovery and restoration.

It is fitting that this word “heal” would be used to picture Christ’s anointing in a person who bears deep wounds and scars in his mind and emotions. This anointing progressively dissolves layers of pain, one after another, until the individual eventually reaches complete restoration. For a reminder, this is an anointing especially for the “brokenhearted” — for those who have been walked on by others, or who feel they have been crushed by others, or those who feel they have been smashed to pieces by life or relationships.

Take a moment to reflect on the number of people you know who feel trampled, broken, or overwhelmed by life’s challenges and by relationships. Our world is filled with individuals carrying emotional wounds and scars in their hearts and minds. Yet Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus Christ and His healing power remain unaltered. The same anointing that restored the emotionally wounded two millennia ago is just as powerful today, and it is ready to bring complete healing to those struggling with emotional and mental burdens. Jesus remains constant, and since His power produced emotional and mental healing in people 2,000 years ago, it is equally present now to heal our deepest wounds.

I encourage you to embrace the anointing of Christ and allow it to mend your heart and mind today, just as it did in times past.

#3. Jesus Delivers Captives

Third, we read in Luke 4:18 that Jesus was anointed “to preach deliverance to the captives.” The word “deliverance” finds its roots in the Greek word aphesis, which conveys the idea of complete dismissal, unbinding, liberation, or setting someone free. The word “captives” is translated from a form of the Greek word aichmalotos, a variant of aichme, which is the Greek word for a spear. But when the word aichme becomes aichmalotos, it is not merely a spear, but it pictures the pointed tip of a spear pressing relentlessly into someone’s back. Consequently, the person who wields the spear holds the power to dictate the captive’s path and to steering them at his will.

This word “captive” refers to those who are dragged into some kind of bondage by a sinister force that metaphorically holds a spear to their backs. It could be any number of things, including a poor self-image, toxic relationships, stubborn habits, the overpowering grip of alcohol or drugs, or disease, illness, and sickness. No one wants their lives to be controlled by any of these destructive developments. But this word “captives” includes a wide range of possible meanings, and it is unequivocally taking into account anyone who endures the chains of disease, illness, or sickness.

But Luke 4:18 declares that when Jesus came, He came as a herald of emancipation. His anointing unleashed liberation to those ensnared by the devil’s grasp. The four Gospels are testimonials to the power of Christ’s anointing, which, 2,000 years ago, brought deliverance to the diseased, the demon-possessed, and all those plagued by various kinds of disease, illness, and sickness. That anointing shattered the spear the devil held against their backs and that He intended to use to keep them in bondage. Once touched by the anointing, those individuals experienced an extraordinary and swift liberation, and they stepped into freedom to embrace the life God had designed for them.

Once again, stop and ponder how many people you know who are taken captive by the devil in some area of their lives. Though they long for freedom, the sharpened tip the enemy has pressed into their backs — driving them with a poor self-image, toxic relationships, habits, or keeping them in the grip of alcohol, drugs, disease, illness, and sickness — egregiously controls their lives. As you read this list, you may see yourself in one of these categories and may be thinking, “The devil has a spear pressed against my own back and has been manipulating my life.”

But once more, let’s turn our hearts to the truth found in Hebrews 13:8 — a timeless truth that assures us Jesus Christ and His anointing to liberate the bound remains unchanging: The very anointing that broke chains and freed the captive souls two millennia ago continues its transformative work today, releasing those ensnared by evil. As expressed in Acts 10:38, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and helping all who were oppressed of the devil….”

The fact that Jesus’ anointing shattered shackles and brought freedom to those who were bound 2,000 years ago means that His anointing is still at work to free people today, for Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Right now His anointing is still available to offer freedom to anyone who is held in any form of physical or mental bondage. This is a truth that can be embraced and accessed by anyone right now by faith in Him and His Word.

To review so far, Jesus was and is anointed to set the captives free, as enumerated in Scripture:

#1: He is an economic game-changer by the power of that anointing
#2: He heals the brokenhearted by that healing anointing
#3: He delivers those held captive, and He does it through that yoke-destroying anointing

#4: Jesus Recovers Sight to the Blind

Fourth, we read in Luke 4:18 that Jesus’ anointing brought “recovering of sight to the blind.” The words “recovering of sight” are translated from a form of the Greek word anablepsis, which is a compound of the words ana and blepo. The word ana means again, and the word blepo means I see. As a compound, it means to see again. In Luke 4:18, this word depicts the miraculous restoration of one’s sight.

During the early New Testament era, the miraculous act of granting sight to the blind was viewed as the utmost miracle, as blindness was believed to be utterly beyond cure. Yet curing blindness is God’s express will, and Jesus returned sight to the blind multiple times, as we read in the following verses:

Matthew 9:27-31 John 9:6-7; 32,39
Matthew 11:5 John 10:21
Matthew 12:22 John 11:37
Matthew 15:29-31 Acts 26:18
Matthew 20:29-34 Psalm 146:8
Matthew 21:14 Isaiah 29:18
Mark 8:22-26 Isaiah 35:5
Mark 10:46-52 Isaiah 42:7,18
Luke 7:22 Luke 18:35-43

But because “blindness” was considered to be impossible to remedy, it meant Jesus’ anointing was able to heal even the worst of all physical maladies. If that anointing could restore sight, people understood that His power could undo any form of disease, illness, or sickness that afflicted any human being.

But in addition to miraculously restoring physical sight to the blind, Jesus also gives “sight” to those who have been spiritually blinded by the devil. The word “blind” is derived from the Greek word tuphlos, and it doesn’t just depict a person who is unable to see; it depicts a person who has been intentionally blinded by someone else. It can picture one whose eyes have been deliberately removed so that he is blinded. The individual hasn’t just lost his sight — he has no eyes with which to see.

This reminds me of Second Corinthians 4:3-4, where Paul wrote, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

In his writings, Paul describes how Satan has “blinded” the unbelievers’ minds using the word tuphoo. This word isn’t just about a lack of vision. This word tuphoo depicts one who has had his or her eyes “removed” by another. If you have friends or family members who appear unable to see the truth, it isn’t that they are naive — they are blind. Satan has “gouged out” their eyes, blocked their view, affected their minds, and they have no spiritual eyes with which to see.

But miraculously, when someone preaches the Gospel to them, the Holy Spirit gives them spiritual eyes to see. Indeed, it’s when we shine the light of the Gospel to those whom Satan has blinded that the Holy Spirit creates eyes for them to see!

Two millennia ago, the anointing on Jesus restored sight to the blind, and since He could do this, it meant there were no known human ailments that could resist the power of His touch. As we reflect on Hebrews 13:8, we are again reassured that Jesus Christ and His healing anointing are unchanging. The same power that gave sight to the blind, and that could heal any physical or mental condition, continues to heal today. Jesus remains constant, and as He worked wonders then, so, too, He extends His healing hand to heal all manner of sickness and disease today. He is unchanging, and the same anointing is present right now for all who come to Him by faith.

Jesus Liberates Those Who Are Bruised

Fifth, we read in Luke 4:18 that Jesus’ anointing came “to set at liberty them that are bruised.” The words “set at liberty” are translated from a form of the Greek word aphesis, which is the same word translated as “deliverance” earlier in the verse. It describes a dismissal or a release, or it means to permanently set someone free.

The word “bruised” originates from the Greek word thrauo, which conveys the idea of crushing or breaking one down. It pictures a person whose life has been fractured or one whose life has been split up and fragmented. This word “bruised” also clearly describes those who are oppressed. Of course, when we think of oppression, we gravitate to the idea of mental oppression, but oppression can also be felt in the body as one is weighed down by a sinister outside force that tries to crush or dominate it with disease, illness, and sickness. But the word “bruised” could also refer to one who has been shattered by a life experience, by broken relationships, including the trauma of divorce.

In the powerful proclamation of Luke 4:18, we see that Jesus was anointed to free those ensnared by life’s deepest fractures. That anointing which was unleashed more than 2,000 years ago shattered the chains of those whose lives had been fractured and crushed, permanently freeing them from the burden of past traumas. Hebrews 13:8 declares Jesus and His anointing is exactly the same today as 2,000 years ago! Since He healed this category back then and His anointing has never changed, that means if those who are “bruised” in any way will come to Jesus by faith, they can still be liberated from their bruised condition.

Jesus’ Same Anointing Is Available Right Now

Sixth, we read in Luke 4:19 that Jesus came “to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” The word “acceptable” is translated from the Greek word dektos, and it means accepted or favorable, and it depicts a favorable time to receive. The use of this phrase implies that whenever Jesus’ anointing is present, it marks the most favorable time in a person’s life to receive whatever kind of healing is needed. And since Hebrews 13:8 says He and His anointing are unchangeable — and because Jesus’ power is present through the ministry of the Holy Spirit — it means “right now” is the best moment for you to receive whatever you need His anointing to do in your life!

But in Luke 4:18 and 19, we see that Jesus’ anointing manifests in the following ways:

It is an economic game-changer for the poor and will break the relentless grip of financial hardship, disrupt the cycle of poverty, and will bring change to their lives.
It heals the “brokenhearted,” or those who feel they have been walked on or crushed by others — or who feel they have been smashed to pieces by life or by relationships.
It sets free “captives” who have been dragged into bondage by a sinister force, whether it be a poor self-image, toxic relationships, stubborn habits, alcohol, drugs, disease, illness, or sickness.
It restores “sight” to the blind, which means Jesus’ anointing is so powerful it can restore physical sight (along with spiritual sight) and, since He can heal the blind, there is no sickness known to medical science that He cannot heal.
It sets at liberty those who are “bruised” — that is, those who have been fractured, fragmented, split up, or who suffer any kind of oppression in their emotions, mind, or
It is available in an “acceptable” time, which means right now, at this very moment, for anyone who comes to Him by faith!

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever — and this means since this multifaceted anointing was on Jesus 2,000 years ago, it is still on Jesus today, and each facet of His powerful anointing is available to you right now.

The reason I shared these verses with you today is, I really want you to know that Jesus has the power to touch every sphere of your being. Whatever you need, He has the answer and the anointing to bring liberating change into your life.

If we can pray with you for that power to be released and to touch a part of your life, please reach out to us so we can pray with you. Please call us at 1-800-742-5593, or send us an email at prayer@renner.org. The moment we hear from you, we’ll release our faith, and we will believe for Jesus’ power to do exactly what needs to be done. As I told you at the beginning of this letter, we are already praying for you, but hearing exactly how we need to pray helps us to pray better, so please let us know.

I ask you to pray with me that God will use my new book The Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Tribulation to answer many people’s questions and strengthen their faith. I am excited about it, and I am really believing it will be a tool of the Holy Spirit to touch many people. And please pray for us as we continue to press forward to touch people around the world with the life- changing message of Jesus and the teaching of God’s Word through our many platforms and outreaches.

We love you and we thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

Bringing Down Complaints

June Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friend,

Today, I want to encourage and remind you that the devil has no power over us. If there is anything in your life causing worry, fear, or terror, be assured that it has no power. Our enemy may seem like a roaring lion, but he has no teeth because Jesus stripped him of his power. All he has remaining in his arsenal is deception and lies, but even though our enemy is powerless, that does not stop him from sending giants our way.

We are all confronted by giants at some time in our lives. Fear or a lack of finances could be giants confronting you today. Conflict in your family with no obvious solution could be another giant. Relationship problems or work challenges that you cannot control could be a giant in your life. Whatever you are facing, it probably looks like a mountain, like a giant staring you in the face and daring you to try to defeat it! I have had giants in my own life that needed to be destroyed, and the only way to defeat them was with the Word and Spirit of God. I have spent hours renewing my mind with the Word of God. His Word is alive and powerful and with it, we are able to take down the giants that try to confront us in this life!

Today, we will examine one giant that can open the door to many others giants, and that is the giant of complaining.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

Complaining Is a Giant

We live in a time when we have instant access to information and connection with people around the world, and sometimes, we take these modern conveniences for granted. We are able to quickly call or email our friends, drive a short distance for groceries or medicine, or push a button for entertainment. There can be a tendency to act entitled rather than being grateful. We can easily forget how blessed we are. When this happens, the giant of complaining rises up.

The Israelites were an example of this. They were God’s chosen people and had received so much from Him. They had observed the ten plagues in Egypt, watched the Red Sea split and walked through it on dry land, and watched as Pharaoh and his army pursued them on the same dry land only to be drowned when the waters crashed back down over them. The Israelites saw it all!

While traveling in the wilderness, God continued to provide for and protect the children of Israel. He fed them manna that fell from the sky every day. This bread-like substance probably contained every vitamin and mineral the body needed. The Bible records the amount of manna they received, and if we put it into modern terms, the children of Israel received 4,500 tons a day! That’s 65,700,000 tons of manna in 40 years!

The Israelites had such an abundance of manna that it would have been nearly impossible for them to consume it all, but after a while, they started complaining. They no longer wanted manna. They were bored of it and were craving meat. So God gave them quail, and like the manna, He provided an abundance for them. At God’s command, 90 million quail appeared! Imagine — 90 million quail every day! God is such an incredible giver, but the Israelites were such complainers. Both with the manna and the quail, God sent abundant provision, more than they could possibly consume in a day, but they still complained!

Because they had developed such a habit of complaining, when Caleb and Joshua returned from the Promised Land with a good report, the Israelites wouldn’t listen. The spies returned, and Caleb boldly declared, “We can take this land. We can defeat these giants!” But those who went with Joshua and Caleb to the Promised Land complained, “We’re grasshoppers in their sight.” They had forgotten how God had drowned Pharaoh’s entire army! Numbers 14 records how deep their complaining and ungratefulness went:

“And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’”

—Numbers 14:2-3

They were such complainers that they began to talk about Egypt, where they had been slaves, as if it had been better than God’s Promised Land!

Complaining is so dangerous because it can become habitual. Maybe you are only grumbling on the inside and think it isn’t affecting anyone, but if you get into the habit of complaining, you will start believing a lie and thinking that your thinking is accurate. You will begin complaining more and more with your words and eventually become deceived by that complaining.

Complaining Has Collateral Damage

When we complain, we are not merely complaining against our situation — we’re complaining against God!

In Numbers 14:27, God says:

“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.”

This word, “complain,” refers to an intellectual rebellion against God. My friend, we do not want this giant of complaining to have rulership over our lives because it will harden our hearts.

I have counseled many married couples, especially the wives, and I have seen how a wife, with her own attitude of complaining, can tear down her marriage. She might say she doesn’t like how her husband treats her mother. Maybe she complains that the children don’t receive enough attention from their father. She doesn’t like that the husband doesn’t make enough money or how he eats or that he leaves his socks on the floor. It’s nothing but complaints, and in a marriage, that can build a wall so thick that the sweet communication that husband and wife once enjoyed is absolutely broken. Over the years, in some marriages, I have seen that the husband’s heart has been so hurt by the complaining and criticism of the wife that it brought them to the point of divorce.

This giant of complaining is destructive and sneaky, and it will become habitual if we let it. If we allow it to stay, it will cause us to hurt God and everyone else around us trying their best to love us.

Fighting Back with Thanksgiving

So how are we going to escape from this giant of complaining? God provided the perfect weapon: Thanksgiving! I have seen thanksgiving annihilate that giant of complaining over and over again. The answer to eliminating complaining in your life is to start being thankful.

At the time Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians, he was in a horrible prison. Historians record that he was being held beneath the palace. Sewage from the palace entered into the room where Paul and other prisoners were being held. In these inhumane conditions, Paul wrote the book of Philippians. This letter begins with a typical greeting in chapter one, but in verse three, Paul proclaimed:

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”

How incredible is that statement? Rats were crawling on the raw sewage that surrounded Paul. He was standing in sewage flowing from the palace, people were dying around him from the horrible conditions, but the very first words from Paul’s mouth were “I thank my God.” Later he says:

“Indeed, I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.”

—Philippians 4:18

How filled with thankfulness must a person be to say, “I have all and abound” while surrounded by such horrific conditions? There are times, by our own will, we must choose to say, “God, everything is not how I want it, but You are faithful. God, You love me. I have breath in my lungs, I woke up today, and You’ve given me a job and a home. God, You have given me food to eat, and I thank You. I thank You for the Holy Spirit that lives on the inside of me.” That kind of thankfulness will defeat the enemy of complaining. We don’t want to become habitual complainers — we want to be habitual thankers.

1 Thessalonians 5 says to be thankful in all things, not for all things but in all. I heard a story of a missionary who had given his life to bring the Gospel message to people in other countries. He had a wife and children who stayed in America while he had took a trip to serve in another country, but while he was there, he received news that his wife was killed in a car accident.

He returned to America and arranged the funeral and everything he needed to do, but he became so depressed that he could hardly lift his head. His trust in God was shattered, and all he could think was, “How could God have not protected my wife while I was giving my life in this other country?” Maybe in your own life you have had those kinds of thoughts.

That missionary eventually became so depressed that he went to another godly minister and poured his heart out. After their talk, the minister simply told him, “Brother, you’ve got to get some thanksgiving in you.”

The missionary took his advice and just sat there, trying to be thankful. He said it took two hours before he could get one tiny word of thanksgiving out of his mouth. He had such a difficult time starting, but once he did, it was like an untapped river of thankfulness on the inside of his spirit that flooded out of him. Through that Thanksgiving, the depression he had been under was absolutely lifted from him! That man of God got married again, had another baby by his second wife, and resumed traveling to other nations and sharing the Gospel with people around the world. This man died as a great example and victor in the faith. But what was it that brought down the enemies of complaining, depression, and oppression in his life? Thanksgiving.

God understands that complaining is not a blessing in our lives. He knows that if we complain, our hearts are not thankful. If we are not thankful, we cannot see the blessings God has given us. Complaining is almost like having blinders covering our eyes to God’s blessings. Instead of focusing on the blessings we do have, we focus on all of the negatives in our lives — what we haven’t received or what isn’t working out or what we think should be better. Complaining becomes a giant in our lives and blinds us to the reality of all of the good God has done for us. We must develop a heart of thankful gratitude to pull down the giant of complaining!

I am so grateful that I have been able to communicate this important and vital truth with you today. I am always so happy to share with you. Please plan to join me for my weekly program, TIME with Denise Renner. It is such a special time. You can connect with me every Monday at 7:00 AM CT on Facebook or YouTube. You can also watch Wednesdays at 12:00 PM CT on Facebook. I hope you will make time in your schedule to come join me!

Before I close this letter, I also want to remind you that if you need prayer for anything in your life, our prayer team is here for you. You can call 1.844.473.6637 or email us at prayer@deniserenner.org. We are ready to support and encourage you through whatever is happening in your life.

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

The Deeper Meaning
of Redemption

June Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friends,

I am so excited about what I am going to be sharing with you today — the meaning of the word “redemption” and how it applies to you and me!

But before I get into today’s teaching, I want to tell you about my new book The Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Tribulation — An End-times Countdown and What Happens Next. This book has percolated inside my heart for many years, and I finally felt it was time to write it. I put a lot of work into this book because many people ask important questions about the end times and want to know when Jesus will return for the Church, and I want to help eliminate confusion and make things clear for people. But right now, you can pre-order it at a special 25-percent discount from the retail price of $29.00, or for $21.75 for a limited time. It is available by calling us at 1-800-742-5593 or by going online at renner.org. I encourage you to order several copies because I’m sure you’re going to want to share this one with someone else!

And when you reach out to us, let us know how to pray for you. Praying for you is one of our highest honors, and we pray for our partners and friends every day. But when we hear from you about your prayer needs, we can start praying more specifically. I believe Jesus will hear our prayers, and He will do exactly what needs to be done to see His will accomplished in your situation. Please pray for us, too, as we are carrying out our God-given assignment. We are so thankful to you for being such an integral part of what God is doing through RENNER Ministries. By being one of our partners, you are helping propagate the precious seed of the Gospel around the world!

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

As I searched my heart for what to write to you about this month, I was reminded of a song we used to sing in my church when I was young: “Redeemed, How I Love To Proclaim It!” by Fanny Crosby. I can still picture myself standing in the pew, surrounded by the congregation as we all exuberantly declared:

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it
Redeemed by the blood of the lamb
Redeemed through His infinite mercy
His child, and forever, I am

Then we would jubilantly sing the chorus, “Redeemed, redeemed! Redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Redeemed, redeemed! His child, and forever, I am.”

I sang that song with every fiber of my being; however, there were many layers to the principle of redemption that I had yet to uncover. But as I deeply studied the word “redemption,” I discovered that it has its roots in ancient slave markets. The parallels between slavery in the ancient world and slavery in the spiritual realm are striking, as you will see as we continue.

Slave Markets in the Ancient World

In antiquity, many large cities had sprawling slave markets — places of unfathomable misery and sorrow. Eager purchasers would meander through the crowded aisles, their eyes scanning for the slave they desired. In these markets, human beings were placed on elevated platforms called auction blocks where they could be viewed and eventually sold to the highest bidder.

Before the buying, selling, and trading commenced, buyers were permitted to “inspect the merchandise.” For example, if a slave was going to be used in menial work that required a great deal of physical abuse, potential buyers might spit on the slaves, strike them, or hurl insults to assess their threshold for endurance. If a slave could suppress his or her pride, clench his jaw, and maintain composure amidst such demeaning treatment, it was presumed that he could toil in arduous labor without causing issues for his new master. This examination process was similar to taking a vehicle for a spin before committing to buy it. Just as a car buyer wants assurance of the value in what he’s acquiring, those in the market for slaves sought to evaluate the “goods” before parting with their money.

Assessing the physical condition of a slave was crucial during auctions because it told the potential buyer whether that slave was a worthwhile investment. One important health indicator that slave owners knew to look for was the state of a slave’s teeth. Shiny, well-kept teeth often implied robust health and could significantly elevate a person’s monetary value. Conversely, if his or her teeth were decayed or rotten, it might lead to that slave being sold at a lower price. As a result, potential buyers would tilt back the head of a candidate, pry open his or her mouth, and scrutinize the teeth to judge their condition, which influenced the buyer’s bidding decisions.

Upon identifying a promising candidate, the buyer would agree to pay the required sum to acquire the individual and thereby transfer the purchased slave into the lawful possession of his or her new master. Depending on the slave’s physical condition and skills, the price of a slave could range from a mere 500 denarii to an extravagant 875,000 denarii. Male slaves possessing striking physiques, unique talents, and advanced education often commanded exorbitant prices. The Romans had a particular preference for male slaves due to their ability to undertake a wider array of physical tasks compared to their female counterparts.

By law, slaves were not permitted to own anything, not even the clothes they wore, and slave owners wielded absolute power over their slaves, with the freedom to mistreat, exploit, or even execute them at their discretion. Regarded as mere property rather than with the dignity of human life, these enslaved individuals could be returned to the market when no longer needed, where they would stand under the auctioneer’s gavel once again. Furthermore, their owners could choose to lend them to acquaintances or rent them out to others in need of labor.

Slavery was prevalent in nearly every aspect of society. Whether enslaved by birth or through a twist of fate, millions of people found themselves imprisoned in a life of slavery. In the bustling metropolis of Rome, a staggering one-third of the city’s one million inhabitants, roughly 300,000 to 350,000 people, were slaves. This served as a testament to the relentless conquests of Roman legions, whose victories flooded the slave markets with more humans to be bartered and traded as mere goods.

There were primarily two different categories of slaves in the Roman world — those who belonged to the government and those who were the private possessions of individuals or families. Public slaves owned by the state were like the cogs of a mighty machine that constructed grand architectural marvels across the Roman empire. But private slaves were owned by private individuals or families, and they generally possessed more freedom than public slaves.

Today, when most people hear the word “slave,” an image comes to mind of individuals clad in tattered clothing and assigned to grueling tasks like bricklaying or laboring in fields. This stereotype holds true in many cases, yet it doesn’t paint the full picture. Surprisingly, a significant number of slaves boasted exceptional skills and had high levels of education. Those owned by wealthy masters often held esteemed roles such as household stewards, financial managers, or secretaries.

Astonishingly, there were slaves who were renowned philosophers, distinguished educators, respected store managers, and even sought-after physicians. Thus, slavery transcended the boundaries of low-skilled, uneducated labor and extended to gifted and well-dressed individuals who catered to the upper tiers of society. Some slaves were entrusted with the crucial role of tutoring the offspring of affluent families. Remarkably, very often slaves bore such a close resemblance to the general populace that the Roman Senate once considered requiring slaves to wear distinctive attire so that it was clear who was a slave and who was not.

What Is the Significance of These Facts?

As I said previously in my letter, the parallels between slavery in the ancient world and slavery in the spiritual realm are striking. In Romans 6:17 and 20, we are reminded that, prior to our journey with Christ, we were all bound as “servants of sin.”

The word “servants” is translated from the Greek word doulos, which is more accurately rendered as slave. This Greek word specifically depicts the most abject and degrading form of slavery. It describes an individual who is utterly consigned to a life of bondage and perpetual slavery for the rest of his or her life. In history, such slaves existed solely to execute the commands of their owner, and their primary duty was to endlessly satisfy their master’s every whim. This historical glimpse pictures one entrenched in the shackles of slavery with his own will entirely eclipsed by that of his master.

And by using the Greek word doulos, Paul illustrated the profound truth that prior to finding Christ, each of us was shackled in slavery to sin and the clutches of Satan. We might have fancied ourselves the masters of our own destinies — believing we held the reins of our lives — but in truth, as we saw in Ephesians 2:2, we were captives who were ensnared in sin’s unforgiving grip, and our destinies were stealthily manipulated by a sinister, invisible force bent on orchestrating our downfall.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a Wall Street executive, a renowned architect, a tenured college professor, or a billionaire businessperson — without the touch of God’s grace, your existence remains ensnared in the bonds of spiritual slavery. The truth is that every person, irrespective of prestige, status, or wealth, enters this world shackled by sin and caught in the snare of spiritual captivity because spiritual death rules him at his core. Whether that person is poor and uneducated, or he wears sharp suits, boasts impressive credentials, drives expensive cars, and lives in lavish homes — without yielding his life to Christ, his spirit remains unwashed by Jesus’ redeeming blood. Until that person surrenders to the lordship of Jesus and allows His blood to redeem him and make him new in Christ, he will remain a slave in Satan’s slave market.

Through Adam’s disobedience, spiritual death entered the spirits of Adam and Eve and all their descendants. As Romans 5:12 says, “…by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” With every passing generation following Adam, the chains of spiritual death tightened and led people of all nations, tribes, and ethnicities further into the depths of sin and depravity.

In Romans 7:14, Paul wrote about our predicament before embracing Christ. He used the word “sold,” which is borrowed from the lexicon of the slave market. It comes from the Greek word piprasko, a word that describes a transfer of ownership. Through this imagery, Paul stated that Adam’s initial disobedience effectively handed over the entirety of humanity to a new master and owner, Satan. Thus, humankind lived under Satan’s ironclad authority and were his possessions, which all occurred as a consequence of Adam’s transgression.

Like slaves in a slave market, we stood on the auction block helpless as Satan slapped our lives around — hitting us, kicking us, spitting in our faces, and abusing us in any way he desired. The master of our chains was relentless and unyielding in his quest to shatter our self-worth and ensnare us with a myriad of issues that would mar us emotionally. When he finished using one kind of bondage and death to torment us, he would put us back on the trading block to be auctioned off again and allow yet another form of bondage to enslave us and begin leaving its destructive marks on our lives.

Caught in this abusive cycle, we found ourselves shuffled from one chain to another in an unending loop of devastation and defeat. Day by day, whether we sensed it or remained oblivious to it, we were auctioned further into the clutches of sin — wholly and completely, from the core of our being to the tips of our toes. This is the very reason Paul referred to us as “the servants of sin” in Romans 6:17 and 20. Our pre-salvation slavery to the devil was so entrenched that our nature became filled with rebellion, and the gulf separating us from God widened to such an extent that Scripture describes us as having become “alienated and enemies” in our minds through wicked works (see Colossians 1:21).

In addition to the sin problem, guilt, shame, turmoil, disease, illness, and sickness wreaked havoc on mankind. But Jesus descended into this world where every living person was bound in Satan’s grasp. Seeing us captive and shackled, guilt-ridden, tormented, and sick, Christ made the profound decision to pay whatever price necessary to reclaim us as His own. With a love that knew no bounds and a determination that soared beyond earthly understanding, He offered the ultimate sacrifice — His own blood — to secure our freedom and make us His own.

Jesus Came To Deliver Us From the Power of Darkness

In Colossians 1:13-14, Paul wrote about Jesus setting us free from Satan’s slave market when he said that God “…hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even forgiveness of sins.”

Among a host of important words in this passage, there is one word I would like to focus on: “delivered.” It comes from the Greek word rhuomai, which means to rescue, to save, or to pluck from peril. It pictures someone being whisked away from harm’s grasp and suggests an urgent deliverance that arrives precisely on time. This word choice reveals that Jesus embarked on a mission to free people from the clutches of the enemy and to rescue them from the devil’s iron grip just when all hope seemed lost!

In Colossians 1:13, Paul stated that God delivered us “from” the power of darkness. The word “from” is a translation of the Greek word ek, which signifies a departure or a way out, and it is where we derive the word exit. This illustrates that through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, God plucked us from and gave us a way out of the grip of the “power of darkness.” The word “power” finds its origin in the Greek word exousia, which speaks of authority, dominion, and influence, and it means all of humanity was living under the authority, dominion, and influence of Satan and his kingdom. The word darkness” is translated from the Greek word skotos, and it depicts the pitch-black absence of any glimmer of light. In this verse, Paul used the word skotos to picture the utter darkness of Satan’s sinister realm.

But then in Colossians 1:13, Paul brilliantly declared that the very instant we turned our backs on sin and welcomed Christ as the Captain of our lives, He “…translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” This word “translated” is derived from the Greek word methistemi, and it pictures a transition from one realm to another. Thus, the moment a person embraces Christ as Lord of his life, he is snatched from the clutches of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of God. This marked your emancipation from the marketplace of sin and your induction into the family of God.

First John 3:14-15 states that when we were translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God, we “passed from death unto life.” The word “passed” is an interpretation of a form of metabaino, a compound of meta and baino. Here, meta means after or beyond, while baino signifies a journey or walk. When combined, the new word metabaino pictures moving from one realm to another or a shift in position or environment. At the very moment of our salvation, we were extricated from death’s dominion, and we were literally moved over into life. This is John’s affirmation that we have been rescued from Satan’s grasp and transitioned into the Kingdom of God’s Son. In the new Kingdom, there is no darkness or death at all, and that means all the toxins of the dark realm were left behind and we moved into a Kingdom dominated only by the goodness of God. When we came to Christ, the powers of darkness were utterly and completely broken over our lives.

Hebrews 2:3 describes this liberation as “so great salvation.” The words “such a great” are a translation of the Greek word telikautes, which denotes that which is extraordinary, grand, majestic, magnificent, or truly remarkable. The term “salvation” originates from soterias, a variant of sodzo, a beloved New Testament term, which describes the rescue from sin and death, healing, freedom, and complete wholeness in every part of life. In the gospels, it is often translated “heal” or “deliver.” However, this single word encompasses deliverance, restoration, preservation, and mental soundness, and it affirms that physical healing and liberation from the grip of demonic forces are also an intrinsic part of salvation.

This explains why Hebrews 2:3 refers to our salvation as “so great salvation.” Through His redemptive work on the Cross, Christ transferred us from the dominion of darkness, legally nullifying all claims the devil held against us. Thus, the salvation we have received is indeed a “great salvation” or a “grand deliverance!” When the Bible says you are “redeemed,” it means Christ has paid the price for your complete liberation — and that is something we should shout about.

There is so much to discover about the subject of redemption that I will have to continue this teaching in next month’s letter. Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem us and make the whole package of salvation available to us, so I’m eager to share with you more important truths about this topic and how it applies to our lives today. I know it will be a blessing to you.

Before I close, I want to again tell you how thankful Denise and I are for your partnership with our ministry. With you, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are reaching millions of people and seeing so many saved and transformed. I am deeply grateful to you for being so willing to partner with us to bring this life-transforming power to people who are in need. We are truly partners in this Gospel work!

Remember that we are here to pray for you. Just call us at 1-800-742-5593 or write to us at prayer@renner.org, and we’ll be so thrilled to pray for you!

We truly do love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

The Very Best Giver

May Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friend,

I remember a time when my grandkids were younger. They loved to go into my closet, find my high heels, put them on their feet, and start walking around our home in them. Sometimes they would take one of Rick’s coats and put it on even though it was too big. Whether walking around in my heels or wearing Rick’s coat, they pretended that they were grandma or grandpa. Our grandkids were imitating Rick and me.

Ephesians 5:1 tells us to “be imitators of God as dear children.” People often say that imitation is the greatest compliment. When we imitate our Heavenly Father because we want to be like Him, we are giving Him the highest praise! That is exactly what He commands us to do in His Word. Today, I want to talk to you about imitating God as a giver.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

When we get worried about what could happen to us or we get too focused on the things of this world, we quickly become nervous about giving to others. But God sets an example for us that is contrary to normal human worries and stinginess. The Bible reveals that God never was and never will be stingy. He is always a giver of the highest degree, and by studying His example, we can learn how we should give as His children.

God Gives…

God Gives Generously:

John chapter six records the story of a time when a huge crowd had gathered to listen to Jesus teach. Jesus questioned Philip, one of the disciples, about feeding the people who had gathered. On this occasion, Jesus multiplied two fish and five loaves of bread; or as my husband teaches, five little crackers and two small minnows that a young boy had brought with him to put on those crackers. After Jesus prayed over that small amount of food, it multiplied exponentially. Some scholars estimate that Jesus not only fed 5,000 men, but with the women and children who were present, He probably fed between 30,000 to 40,000 people that day with just two little minnows and five small crackers! Forty thousand people!

Our God is such a giving God that He multiplied and continued to multiply those few fish and crackers to feed the multitudes. Matthew 14:20 says, “So they all ate and were filled.” The Greek word for “filled” means satisfied. Those people ate until they were full and afterwards there was still food left over! When we give something to God, He doesn’t just add to what we give Him, He multiplies it! God is such a far-above giver!

God Gives Universally:

In that same passage in John, after everyone was satisfied, Jesus told His disciples to gather up the fragments so that nothing would be lost. When they finished gathering the fragments, 12 baskets were filled with the leftovers. Who do you think those 12 baskets were for? They were for those 12 disciples! God had multiplied for the crowd, and now He was supplying for each and every one of the disciples!

One day I was meditating on that, and I realized one of those disciples was Judas Iscariot! God gave Judas the same amount of food in his basket as He gave John, Peter, James, and Andrew. God is such a giver — He even gave to His betrayer! This is such a perfect example of Jesus’ words found in Matthew 5:43-48. It says:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

God is showing us in His Word that we are not only to bless and love our friends and those who love us, but we are also to love our enemies and those who despitefully use us, in a way similar to when Jesus gave a basket full of crackers and minnows to His betrayer. We are to be imitators of Him in how we love others.

Jesus treated Judas no differently than He did the other disciples. That is truly amazing, and that is our God! I am so grateful that God is that kind of giver, because there was a time in our lives when you and I didn’t know Jesus. Even today, you may be struggling and not doing everything perfectly as a Christian, but that will never stop God from giving to and loving you.

God Gives Extravagantly:

Not only does God give generously, He also gives abundantly to everyone, even His enemies. Even more incredible, God gives us the highest quality gifts.

Romans 8:32 says:

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

God always gives us His very best, but sometimes when we give, we don’t do the same. Unfortunately, I have done this personally, and maybe you have too. Have you ever given something away that you no longer use or have a need for? God is not that kind of giver. He is an extravagant giver who says, “I’m giving My very best, and My very best is Jesus.” God is not stingy. He is not trying to hold anything back from you; God is trying to get everything to you, even His very best.

God Gives Freely:

Best of all, our God is not unwilling or hesitant in His giving. He doesn’t give just because we beg Him.

Look at James 1:5:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

The Greek word for, “ask of God,” means to get very close to God. Sometimes we think drawing near to God means we need to do everything perfectly, but in our sinful flesh, that is impossible for us. No. When we take our imperfect selves and say, “God, I’m coming to you. I’m drawing near to you, Father, as close as I can. I’m determined to think about You first, Lord, as much as I am able. I’m going to talk to you as often as possible” — when we have this heart attitude, God responds. God is such a giver. Even if we have not been seeking Him, and encounter a situation where we desperately need God and His wisdom. He doesn’t say, “Oh, you haven’t talked to Me in five years. I’m not going to do anything for you.” No. That is not our God. He is not the God with a clenched fist, but the God with an open hand. God is the best giver and He is a habitual giver. As we seek Him for wisdom, as James 1:5 states, He promises to give it to us liberally! God is obliged to give us wisdom as we seek Him.

The Reward of Greed

God gave His own Son for us. This is a powerful example for us to follow, but sometimes, in our sinful natures it is difficult. We are so fortunate to have a God who readily forgives us whenever we mess up, but as Paul tells us, we cannot use that as an excuse to continue sinning.

The Bible reveals some examples of people who did not follow God’s generous example, who were unrepentantly stingy and greedy. In the Old Testament, we read about Laban. Laban was the father-in-law of Jacob, who lied to Jacob and cheated him over and over again. Laban tried his best to cheat Jacob out of the things God had given him, but what did it bring to that selfish Laban? Everything he tried to cling to — his daughters, his livestock, the work that Jacob was doing for him — Laban absolutely lost.

What about Nabal? Nabal was the husband of a beautiful woman named Abigail. David and his men had been respectful to Nabal while they were near his land, and it was an especially plentiful time for Nabal. But when David came looking for provision for them, Nabal refused and insulted them. Nabal was stingy. David became so angry at Nabal that he wanted to completely destroy Nabal and his men. But Abigail, in all her wisdom, humility, and kindness, went to David and begged for mercy. She fed all his men and was blessed because of her generosity. What happened to Nabal, the stingy one? Everything he wanted to cling to, he lost. He even lost his life.

What about Judas? Judas was stingy. When he got angry about money (John 12: 4-5), Judas wasn’t thinking about feeding the poor. The Bible says he was thinking about the treasury and what he could have done with it for himself. What happened to stingy Judas? He betrayed the Son of God, and he died. He lost his life. That is what stinginess gets you.

Imitating Him

Friend, we must realize that God is not a hoarder. Hoarding is all about self. God is a provider. Even at this very moment, God is in Heaven preparing to give us a gift.

Jesus said in John 14:2-3:

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Jesus has already given us salvation, and now He is preparing the gift we will receive when we join Him in Heaven!

We need to ask ourselves, “Do I imitate God as a giver or do I only give to those who give to me? Do I just give to those who do good to me? Do I only give something away that I don’t need or do I give my very best?”

Luke 6:38 says:

“Give, and it will be given you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

God knows we cannot outgive Him because He will always give back abundantly more than we will ever be able to give Him, and we cannot give God what we do not have — God would never expect that of us — but we can give Him what we do have. So, what can you give? Can you give more of your time to people who need you? What about your money, your forgiveness? What about your patience? Could you give more of that? What about your mercy? What about your love? What about trusting somebody? Could you give someone trust who might not deserve your trust but wants another chance? What possession can you give that you don’t need and somebody else does? Maybe it’s your enemy who needs it. Are you willing to give it to them?

God has revealed Himself as the tremendous giver He is. He loved us when we were spiritually dead, and He made us alive in Him. His gifts are enormous, and they are coming towards us right now. So, I want you to ask yourself, How can I act like God and give something today?

Before I close my letter, I want to encourage you that we are here for you. Prayer is so important to our Christian walk, and our team takes every one of your prayer requests seriously. Whether you need strength to follow God’s example or provision for a difficult time in life, you can connect with our prayer team today by calling 1.844.473.6637 or sending an email to prayer@deniserenner.org. We are believing for you to see the fullness of God’s blessings in your life soon!

I also want to invite you to my weekly program, TIME with Denise Renner. Every Monday at 7 AM CT and Wednesday at 12 PM CT, I have the privilege of sharing what God has put on my heart for you. I hope you will join me if you haven’t yet! You can watch TIME with Denise Renner on my Facebook page, YouTube channel, or by visiting Renner.org.

I pray that this teaching will encourage you or someone you know to give like God today. We have such a generous Father in Heaven, and when we follow His example, He gives back to us so much more than we could ever imagine. Remember His love for you and determine to put on His giving mindset as you carry His image out into your life this week.

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

Give No Place to the Devil

May Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friends,

Greetings in Jesus’ wonderful name!

I am so thankful to be able to greet you today, and I am thankful that God has connected us for the advancement of His Kingdom. It is a great thing that God connects people, and I take it very seriously that God has brought us into your life and you into ours. For this reason, I want to express how thankful I am for you and for the role you play in this ministry as a partner. I never use the word “partner” lightly, for “partnership” is what we are doing together with God’s grace to see the trusted teaching of God’s Word go to the ends of the earth!

Just this week, I received a report from my team about where our various media outreaches are making an impact across the planet, and it is truly amazing to see how God is touching people all over the world. The statistics I saw, which represent precious people across the globe, left me amazed. Denise and I are thankful that God called and chose us, and we are thankful that He called and chose you to be a part of this as well. Together, we are a powerful team!

In this month’s letter, I want to write to you about something that has been on my heart lately. This week I am working on a new book about how sickness finds its way into people’s lives. As I’ve been writing, I’ve especially focused on Ephesians 4:27, which says, “Neither give place to the devil.” It is a relatively short verse, but there is so much to learn, and I believe it will be a blessing to you.

The term “place” originates from the Greek word topos, which signifies a distinct, defined geographical location. It evokes the sense of a territory, province, region, or zone and is the root of our modern English term topographical map. The implication is that the devil seeks to infiltrate every area and aspect of our lives — whether it be our finances, our marriage, our friendships, our career, our business ventures, or even our health. Whenever we disobey God’s instructions to us, we unwittingly create an “entry point” — a breach that allows the devil an opportunity to establish a stronghold. Therefore, Paul’s message is urgent and clear: “Neither give place to the devil.”

If you allow a “door” of your life ajar, even the slightest crack, the devil will slip through just as he maneuvered his way into the Garden of Eden at the dawn of time. That’s the very reason God commanded Adam in Genesis 2:15 to “keep” the Garden — a directive not just to maintain, but to vigilantly guard, to surround with care, and to protect. When God told Adam to “keep” the Garden, He was warning him to be wary, for the devil seeks a way in, and that is precisely why God tasked Adam to protect the Garden and to keep it secure. In the words of the New Testament, it was as though God was advising Adam, “Neither give place to the devil.”

The fact is, we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ — so we don’t ever have to let the devil run all over us. First John 4:4 declares, “…Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Yet Paul told us, “Neither give place to the devil.” Even though the greater one lives inside us, IF we give the enemy “place” by disobeying God’s instructions, he will find entrance into our lives through the “entry point” of disobedience and will attempt to wreak havoc as a result.

If the devil is looking for an “entry point” in our lives that could result in damaging circumstances and even in poor health — and if one of those entry points is disobedience — then First Peter 5:8 is important for us to understand. The devil is looking for an “entry point” in our lives that could result in damaging circumstances, including poor health, and one of those entry points, as we’ve seen, is disobedience. In First Peter 5:8, Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Peter began this verse by saying, “Be sober.” The word “sober” is interpreted from the Greek word nepho, which means to be sober and not drunk. It pictures one who is free from alcoholic intoxication; free from the deliriums, delusions, and hallucinations that may accompany drunkenness; or free of silly thinking and hence able to have presence of mind and clear judgment.

This word depicts someone who is in control rather than being controlled by urges, impulses, whims, and fluctuating emotions. It means to have one’s wits about him; to be rational as opposed to irrational; or to be free from a drunken state in which one drops his guard and is more likely to give way to foolish behavior, unreasonable conversations, and detrimental decisions. Simply, the word “sober” in this verse means to be serious-minded.

To give you a clearer picture of this word nepho, I will share five key verses in the New Testament where this word is used.

In First Thessalonians 5:6, the apostle Paul used it to describe responsible living. He said, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Considering what “sober” means in the Greek, we could translate this verse, “Let us watch and think clearly, not like silly drunks who drop their guard and make foolish mistakes.”
In First Thessalonians 5:8, Paul used this word nepho again when he said, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober….” This could actually be translated, “But let us, who are of the day, be clear and rational in our thinking.”
In Second Timothy 4:5, Paul used the word nepho to urge Timothy to be level-headed. He said, “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” The phrase “watch thou” is from the Greek word nepho, and this verse would be better translated, “Keep your head on straight. Get a grip on yourself and think straight.”
In First Peter 1:13, Peter wrote, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober….” Again, he used the Greek word nepho to urge his readers to be “sober” in every area of their lives. It could be interpreted, “Put away irresponsible and foolish thinking that leads to bad decisions.”

But there’s more to learn here. Peter wrote, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind ….” In Roman times, before a race, a runner would “gird up the loins” by grabbing the loose, dangly ends of his skirt and tucking them under his loin belt. If a runner allowed his skirt to dangle while he was running, it could get caught in his legs and hinder his race. So a good runner would tuck those loose ends under his loin belt so his legs could move freely. Thus, this verse means, “Grab all the dangling ends and loose places of your life — your distractions and everything that would hinder your race — and get them out of the way so you can run freely and attain your goal.”

In First Peter 4:7, we find the word nepho again where Peter called each of us to responsible living in light of Christ’s soon return. It says, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” That word “sober” is again interpreted from the Greek word nepho, which tells us the first part of this verse means, “Be free from the intoxications of life.” This is important, for when a person is intoxicated, he drops his guard and makes bad decisions — and bad things take place as a result.

All of these multiple uses of the Greek word nepho bring us back to First Peter 5:8 where Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Throughout the New Testament, the word “sober” is used as a warning to get a grip on oneself, to think straight, and not to engage in foolish thinking. But then Peter added, “Be sober, be vigilant….”

The word “vigilant” tells us why we need to be sober-minded. The word “vigilant” is interpreted from the Greek word gregoreo, which means to arouse from sleep. It is the picture of someone who is awake, as opposed to someone who is drowsy, sleepy, or negligent — or one who is watchful, as opposed to careless and non-attentive. It implies giving strict attention to something or being cautious and on high alert. The best meaning of the word gregoreo is to put up one’s guard against a sinister outside force or enemy that is trying to get on the inside.

The Greek word gregoreo is used in 12 key verses throughout the New Testament.

In Matthew 24:42, Jesus used the word gregoreo to describe the attitude we must have about His coming: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” The word “watch” is interpreted from the Greek word gregoreo — the same word translated “vigilant” in First Peter 5:8. Its use in Matthew would be better translated, “Therefore, be on your guard. Something’s going to happen. And if you’re not alert — if you’re not on your guard — it will take you by surprise.”
In Matthew 24:43, Jesus also said, “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched….” The word “watched” is also translated from gregoreo. That part of the verse could actually be translated, “If the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have been on guard.”
In Matthew 25:13, after Jesus had taught the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” The word “watch” is again gregoreo. A better translation of the word “watch” here would be, “Stay wide awake and alert, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
In Matthew 26:38, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane when He said, “…My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” Again, “watch” is translated from the Greek word gregoreo, and a better translation in the context of that verse would be, “Stay wide awake and alert — attentive — with Me.”
In Mark 13:34, Jesus was commanding us to be ready for His return. He said, “For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch [gregoreo].” A better translation of the last part of that verse would be, He “commanded the porter to stay on guard and on alert, constantly watching.”
In Mark 13:35 and 37, we again find the word gregoreo translated as the word “watch.” It says, “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh…. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” In these verses, the word gregoreo also implies an attitude of watchfulness and vigilance and being alert and on guard. One expositor says it means to be on high alert.
In Acts 20:31, we find the word gregoreo in Paul’s words to the Ephesian leaders. In that verse, Paul said, “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” The word “watch” is translated from the Greek word gregoreo. Within the full context of this verse, the idea carried by the word gregoreo is, “Therefore, be on your guard against outside enemy forces and be constantly vigilant and on high alert.”
In First Corinthians 16:13, Paul said, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” The words “watch ye” are translated from the word gregoreo, and it could once again be translated, “Be constantly on alert and on your guard.”

The Greek term gregoreo conveys a persistent state of alertness or an acute awareness that highlights the potential for unexpected events to catch us off guard. This is exactly how Peter utilized the word in First Peter 5:8 when he exhorted believers to be “vigilant.” It’s a divine directive that underscores our duty to remain proactive and to ensure that the adversary finds no “entry point” in our lives. As the devil prowls and seeks to infiltrate and wreak havoc, our vigilance acts as a formidable barrier that thwarts his efforts to breach our defenses and disrupt our lives.

In First Peter 5:8, Peter continued, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

The word “adversary” is translated from the very unique Greek word antidikos — and the usage of this word was well-established in the Greek culture of the First Century. It described a lawyer who argued in a court of law or a prosecuting attorney who argued vehemently against the accused. It also described an accuser or prosecutor who intended to bring a guilty charge against a person on the basis of information from past actions or deeds, similar to how a legal prosecutor brings formal charges against the accused based on some legal violation.

Think about the work of a prosecutor — a prosecutor prosecutes. But to do his job well, he can’t bring random charges against a person. Instead, he must have hard evidence against the accused. He has to have information about some past violation or evidence that some law has been broken. And with that information in hand, he can proceed to prosecute with the intention to take the violator down.

But to understand the word “adversary” — translated from the word antidikos — let’s look at four scriptural examples of this Greek word antidikos used in the New Testament.

In Matthew 5:25, the word antidikos is used twice in one verse. Jesus said, “Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge….” Although the word is translated “adversary” here, a better translation of that verse might be: “Agree with the prosecutor quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the prosecutor deliver thee to the judge….”
In Luke 12:58, Jesus said, “When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate….” Here we see that same Greek word antidikos. This verse could be translated, “When you go with your adversary, that is, the prosecutor who is bringing legal charges against you based on evidence of wrongdoing….”
In Luke 18:3, Jesus said, “And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him [the judge], saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.” Here, the word “adversary” (antidikos) describes a ruthless prosecutor. We could read it this way: “And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, ‘Avenge me from the attacks of my adversary, who is ruthlessly trying to prosecute me and take me down.’”
In First Peter 5:8, Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil….” Because the word antidikos is used in the Greek for the word “adversary,” it means this verse actually tells us to be sober and vigilant because your “adversary the devil, like a prosecuting attorney, is searching for some loophole in your life, some place of spiritual violation where you have broken a spiritual law. And like a prosecuting attorney, he will try to use that evidence to legally prosecute you and take you down.”

By using the Greek word antidikos, which is translated “adversary,” but which actually pictures a prosecuting attorney, Peter informed us that the devil, like a prosecuting attorney, searches for areas of violation in our lives — that is, areas where you have disobeyed or violated God’s instruction. He looks for any loophole that he can use to prosecute you and take you down.

Even though the Greater One lives in you and you are secure in Christ, the fact is that if you have violated a spiritual law, you’ve created an “entry point” through which the devil can access your life. That’s why it’s important to judge yourself “…that ye be not judged” (see Matthew 7:1; 1 Corinthians 11:31) and turn from any area of disobedience in your life. Repent and close the door so the adversary has no legal grounds to prosecute or attack your life.

Similar to the way disobedience at the dawn of time allowed malevolence to creep into the Garden of Eden, when a Christian fails to adhere to God’s instructions, it can usher in similar undesired outcomes. Of course, when we disobey God’s Word, such disobedience always results in negative consequences. But in addition to disobeying the Scripture, there are also times when believers disregard, disobey, and ignore specific words of instruction that the Holy Spirit has given them for their marriage, family, business, ministry, or future.

By disregarding, disobeying, and ignoring the Spirit’s specific instructions, we can fall into a precarious place where Satan finds us easy to attack. When we are persistently disobedient to instructions given to us, we come out from under God’s protection and can experience all kinds of disastrous things in our lives. But when we are willing and obedient, we are enabled to walk in God’s blessing.

If you are experiencing damaging things in your life, don’t automatically assume the devil is simply attacking you. First, pause and pray, asking the Lord to search your heart and mind to see if there are any areas in which you are walking in disobedience. If He shows you disobedience in your life, repent so that you slam the door on the devil and the curse. You will know in your heart if you are walking in disobedience, so be quick to acknowledge it and repent.

Repentance allows us to get back under God’s protection and causes all of those curses and negative things to stop. And when we get back on the right side of obedience, we will see God’s blessings begin to flow in our life again. In Isaiah 1:19, God declares, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”

The first word “if ” is a hypothetical particle, creating a situation of willingness and obedience before the blessing can be administered. To receive God’s blessing, we must first be “willing.” This is a Hebrew word meaning willing to consent or to be willing. And the word “obedient” means to hear and obey what has been spoken. Hence, the first part of obedience is hearing, and the second part is doing what we’ve been instructed to do.

If you are willing to consent to what God says and to be obedient in hearing and doing His Word, He promises, “…Ye shall eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19). The word “eat” means to consume, to devour, to dine, to eat, or to feed. God says that you will feast on the good of the land as a result of your obedience.

Friend, this is a principle that applies to the whole Word of God. When you obey what it says, all kinds of good things will come on you and overtake you, but when you disobey God’s Word, you will receive bad things instead. The word “good” in Isaiah 1:19 describes that which is best or the best things. It is the term for bounty, goods, goodness, good things, or prosperity. If you live a life of obedience, you will experience the blessings of God. But if you disobey and refuse to do what He has said, the door to your life will be opened for all kinds of bad things to come rushing in.

As Moses said to the children of Israel more than 3,000 years ago, and what God is also saying to us today: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). It always pays to obey.

This is what was on my heart to share with you today!

As I close, I want to say that we are here to pray for you — if there is any special need on your heart that you feel needs agreement in prayer, please call us or send us an email. Just call 1-800-742-5593 or send your prayer request to prayer@renner.org. As soon as we hear from you, we will go to the Lord in prayer — and we really believe that Jesus will do exactly what needs to be done. And please pray for us, too, as we continue to push back darkness and take God’s Word to people all over the world who are crying out for it!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

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The Life You Leave Behind

Someone You Wouldn’t Suspect

A Life Changed

Embracing a Balanced Lifestyle

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#1: Jesus Is An Economic Game-Changer

#2: Jesus Heals the Brokenhearted

#3. Jesus Delivers Captives

#4: Jesus Recovers Sight to the Blind

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The Deeper Meaning of Redemption

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Give No Place to the Devil

The Deeper Meaning
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